Surveillance plane P8I lands in Andamans

India's latest maritime surveillance aircraft, P8I, has landed at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, signalling the Navy's plan to increasingly use the islands to keep an eye on the three crucial sea lanes used by China to ferry its cargo.

The maiden landing of the first P8I at INS Utkorsh in Port Blair on Tuesday gave the aircraft's pilots and crew an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the facilities at the island, which would come handy if the government wanted to operate a few of these surveillance aircraft from the island.

The aircraft is equipped with sensors for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations and electronic intelligence missions. It carries state-of-the-art sensors and highly potent anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons.

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