NEW DELHI \u2014 India has cleared purchase of four additional P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft for US $1 billion from Boeing, which awaits the signing of another $2.5 billion contract to purchase attack and heavy-lift helicopters, said a Ministry of Defence source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the highest body in the MoD that decides weapons procurement, at its Tuesday meeting<\/span> cleared the purchase of additional P-8I aircraft Tuesday on a government-to-government basis to top the eight already contracted in 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Indian Navy last year decided <\/span>to <\/span>invoked go in for <\/span>the option clause in the contract under which it could can place an <\/span>order for <\/span>four more <\/span> additional P-8Is. The P-8I is the Indian variant of the P-8A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this month, Boeing of U.S. <\/span> extended its price quote for the 12th time for a $2.5 billion tender involving the sale of 22 Apache and 15 Chinook helicopters to India. Boeing won the tender in a global competition in 2013 but the contract has not been finalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MoD sources said the helicopter tender should be completed is likely to be inked <\/span>in the next three months as an issue the stumbling block<\/span> relating to offset fulfillment has <\/span>been <\/span>was resolved. Boeing had <\/span>did not provided all necessary documents related to the offset requirements, but MoD said it is now satisfied with the documentation and that Boeing will fulfill offsets amounting to 30 percent of the total value of the contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “There is nothing holding back the contract further,” the source added<\/p>\n\n\n\n