NEW DELHI: For the first time, Indian Navy's P8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft from Indian Naval Ship (INS) Rajali has inducted at Hawaii for participating in the Rim of Pacific Multinational Naval exercise (RIMPAC-18).
This is the first time ever that an Indian Naval aircraft has traversed so far east into the Pacific.
In doing so, the aircraft has attained many additional firsts for an IN aircraft. It is the first IN aircraft to cross the International Date Line, undertaking the longest ferry of nearly 3300 nm from Guam to Hawaii and the first IN aircraft to participate in RIMPAC.
The aircraft will form part of the largest naval exercise which has 26 nations participating in this year's edition and will undertake Tactical exercises including Anti Submarine Warfare and Maritime Reconnaissance missions along with participating foreign Naval ships, submarines and aircraft to hone the interoperability skills of the IN.
During the exercise, IN P8I will be operating from Joint Airbase Hickam, Honolulu in Hawaii.