Tatas get Boeing job order for interior panel supply to P-8s

New Delhi, Sep 7 (PTI) India’s next four Poseidon-8Ilong-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfareaircraft could come fitted with domestically-made compositeinterior panels. Tata Advanced Materials Ltd (TAML), a subsidiary of TataIndustries, has been awarded a contract from Boeing to providecomposite interior closeout panels for the P-8 aircraft thatcover the interior wall structure of the aircraft, a statementfrom the Tatas said. The contract entails supplying interior panels on a globalbasis. However, industry sources said it is not clear if theIndian version of the aircraft would come fitted withTAML-made panels as they are not the sole providers. The P-8 is designed for long-range anti-submarine andanti-surface warfare as well as armed intelligence,surveillance and reconnaissance missions. India had on July 27 signed an over USD 1-billion dealwith American defence and aerospace major Boeing for procuringfour additional Poseidon-8I. The contract is a follow-on orderto eight P-81 planes already bought by India in a direct dealworth USD 2.1 billion with the firm. Armed with deadly Harpoon missiles, light-weighttorpedoes and rockets, among others, the Navy is extensivelyusing the P-8I to keep a strict vigil over the Indian Ocean,which has seen numerous Chinese submarine forays, includingdocking of a nuclear sub in Sri Lanka. TAML is currently under contract to manufacture the P-8tail cone and auxiliary power unit door fairing out of India. Additionally, TAML works for Dynamatic TechnologiesLtd in support of the CH-47F Chinook, a medium-to-heavy lifthelicopter and for P-8 cabinets. Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd have established ajoint venture in India to produce AH-64 Apache fuselages,coproduce aero structures and pursue integrated systemsdevelopment opportunities in India. PTI SAP BEN GKARD