The Indian Navy’s Boeing P-8I aircraft commenced operations from INS Hansa, Goa with two aircraft arriving on 30 December 2021.
The aircraft were inducted after the installation of indigenous equipment and flight acceptance trials.
On arrival, the aircraft was 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.
INS Hansa is the country’s naval station located near Dabolim in Goa. It is the largest naval airbase in India.