WASHINGTON, March 16 (Chinese media) -- The Obama administration has given green light to a 2.1-billion-U.S.-dollar contract for Boeing to supply eight P-8i long-range Maritime surveillance planes to India, the Washington Post reported on Monday.
The U.S. State Department has informed the Congress that it will issue license to Boeing so that it can complete the deal with India, the largest U.S. arms sale to India to date.
The department cited "political, military, economic, human rights and arms-control" factors in making this decision.
The deal surpassed the 2008 one-billion-dollar deal for the supply of six U.S. C-130 transport aircraft for Indian special forces.
Boeing said it will deliver the first P-8i by end-2012 or early-2013, with delivery of the remaining seven aircraft expected to be completed by 2015.
The deal also include spare parts, training and logistical services through 2019.
The P-8i, a derivative of Boeing 737-800, is a long range antisubmarine warfare, anti surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad area, maritime and littoral operations.
India is among the first batch of the buyers of the P-8i.
The U.S. military has yet been equipped with the new plane and it plans to buy 108 in the coming years.
The first flight test is scheduled this year and initial operational capability is slated for 2013.
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