As of mid-October 2025, the Indian Navy is nearing the finalization of a $4 billion contract to procure six additional Boeing P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which will expand its fleet to 18 aircraft. This deal comes after protracted negotiations that were stalled due to U.S. tariffs imposed in August 2025, increasing costs by nearly 50%. The recent breakthrough in talks between Indian defense officials and a high-level U.S. delegation, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense and Boeing, has resolved these cost disputes, allowing the deal to swiftly proceed. The P-8I, a customized variant of Boeing’s P-8A, is equipped with advanced maritime surveillance radars, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and integrates indigenous Indian communication systems. Stationed primarily in Tamil Nadu, this expanded fleet will considerably enhance India’s long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities in the Indian Ocean amid rising Chinese naval activity. The deal strengthens the strategic U.S.-India defense partnership, emphasizing local maintenance, technology integration, and maritime security cooperation to bolster India’s command over its extensive Exclusive Economic Zone. The contract is expected to be completed by 2027.