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INDIAN NAVY'S P8I NEPTUNE MPA COMMENCE OPERATIONS FROM INS HANSA

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 1/6/2022 1:50:51 PM

New Delhi,Jan05 The aircraft were inducted after fitment of indigenous equipment and Flight Acceptance Trials. On arrival, the aircraft were welcomed by a MiG 29K formation. The Indian Navy had acquired the first batch of eight P-8I aircraft in 2013 that are stationed at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. The second batch of four additional aircraft will be based at Indian Naval Air Squadron 316, to be commissioned at INS Hansa. Boeing delivered the 11th P-8I to the Indian Navy in October 2021. INS Hansa is the naval air station where a French Navy Rafale-M fighter will be conducting ski jump tests starting this week. You can see the ski jump in the picture above. The test campaign will assess if the French-made carrier fighter is able to launch from Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Boeing previously demonstrated this capability for its F/A- 18E Super Hornet from a similar land-based facility. The Rafale M and Super Hornet are competing for an Indian Navy procurement contract.