Boeing teams with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for P-8I weapons bay doors

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has formally signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the India-based manufacturer to provide weapons bay doors for eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft that will be delivered to the Indian navy.

Under the terms of the $4.7 million contract, HAL will deliver the first set of doors to Boeing in Seattle by the end of the year.

"Although HAL provides other equipment for P-8I through its avionics division in Hyderabad, this is the first P-8I offset package that Boeing has directly executed with India's largest aerospace company," said Vivek Lall, vice president and India country head, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "We welcome HAL's technical expertise and capabilities as well as the opportunity to increase our partnership on P-8I."

"HAL's consistent performance in quality, cost and delivery in manufacturing aerostructures and composite assemblies is the key to securing further orders from Boeing, with whom we share a strong relationship," said Soundara Rajan, HAL director, Corporate Planning and Marketing.

The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy; India is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, which took place in January 2009.

The P-8I is a true multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that features greater flexibility and a broader range of capabilities than MPAs currently in service. It can operate effectively over land or water while performing anti-submarine warfare missions; search and rescue; maritime interdiction; and long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance.

The P-8I will provide India with speed, reliability, persistence and room for growth to satisfy the country's requirements now and well into the future. The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.

In addition to its work on the P-8I program, HAL also supplies Boeing with gun bay doors and wire harnesses for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and uplock boxes for the 777 commercial airplane.