NEW DELHI – Indian Navy surveillance warfare aircraft P-8Is were deployedto keep an eye on the movement of Pakistani troops after the Pulwama terrorattack in 2019.
“The P-8I aircraft were the most potent platform to carry out surveillance– be it sea or mountains. The aircraft was live-streaming data to supportdecision making during the Doklam face-off,” said defence expert Capt D KSharma (retd).
Sharma said the deployment of the P-8Is signified synergy among the Armyand the Navy in dealing with the major crisis.
The P-8I, based on the Boeing next-generation 737 commercial airplane, is avariant of the P-8A Poseidon used by the US Navy.
Indian Navy’s Poseidon 8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft was deployed tocarry out surveillance on the movement of Chinese troops during the73-day-long standoff between India and China in mountainous Doklam.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat confirmed the use of the navalaircraft while talking about the need for bringing in tri-services synergyin dealing with national security challenges.
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“The P-8I aircraft of Indian Navy was deployed in Doklam (during theface-off),” Gen Rawat told a group of journalists.
Troops of India and China were locked in a standoff in Doklam from June 16,2017, after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputedarea by the Chinese Army.
The face-off triggered fears of a war between the two neighbours. Thestandoff ended on August 28, 2017, after over 10 rounds of talks betweendiplomats of the two sides.
