By Surendra Ahuja, Managing Director, Boeing Defence India
New Delhi. 08 October 2022. Boeing’s relationship with the Indian Airforce goes back to the 1940s when two Boeing aircraft, the T-6 Texan, or Harvard Advanced Trainer and the C-47 Skytrain military transport, a military variant of the DC-3 were enlisted by the Indian Air Force. This marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship, which continues to grow stronger. At Boeing, as we reflect on our journey in the country and our association with the Indian Air Force, we feel proud and privileged. Today, the Indian Air Force operates a number of Boeing aircraft viz 11 C-17s, 22 AH-64 Apaches (with six on order), 15 CH-47 Chinooks, 3 VVIP aircraft (737 airframe) and two Head of State aircraft (777 airframe).
CH-47F (I) Chinook: Unmatched strategic capability
The CH-47 Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter that will provide the Indian Air Force with unmatched strategic airlift capability across the full spectrum of combat and humanitarian missions. The Chinook has an unsurpassed ability to deliver heavy payloads to high altitudes and is eminently suitable for operations in the high Himalayas. The aircraft has been battle-tested in diverse, extreme conditions throughout the world, and has proven capability to operate in the wide range of conditions that typify the Indian subcontinent.
C-17 Globemaster III: Always Dependable. Always Ready.
A high-wing, 4-engine, T-tailed military-transport aircraft, the C-17 can carry large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world, day or night. The massive, sturdy, long-haul aircraft tackles distance, destination and heavy, oversized payloads in unpredictable conditions. It has delivered cargo in every worldwide operation since the 1990s. Boeing has also established an in-country C-17 simulator training centre which has completed thousands of training hours for aircrews and loadmasters. India is the largest operator of the C-17 outside the United States.
AH-64E Apache: Advanced Multi-role Combat Helicopter
The AH-64 Apache is undisputedly the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter. Used by the U.S. Army and a growing number of international defence forces, India was the 16th nation to select the Apache. The Indian Air Force has a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. In 2020, the Government of India contracted for six additional AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Indian Army. The AH-64E is an advanced multi-mission helicopter with the latest technology insertions, maintaining its standing as the world’s best attack helicopter. It is the only combat helicopter with a spectrum of capabilities for virtually any mission requirement.
The pace and depth of our engagement with the Indian Air Force through products, services, and partnerships have increased in recent years. Apart from offering one of the best, and most proven platforms in the world to the Indian Air Force, Boeing has also invested in building a robust support ecosystem to ensure their mission-readiness needs. Boeing India Defense Pvt Ltd (BIDPL), informally referred to as Boeing Defence India (BDI), was established in 2017 to deepen Boeing’s engagement with the Indian armed forces to deliver advanced capability and readiness through local support and services spanning the lifecycle of the Boeing platforms. Additionally, we continue to grow a globally competitive supplier base in India, with strong partnerships aligned with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. Our sourcing from India stands at $1.1 billion per year from a large and growing base of over 300 suppliers manufacturing critical systems and components for some of Boeing’s most advanced products. We are also helping develop Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and in fact, over 25 per cent of our suppliers from India are MSMEs.
In 2021, we launched the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) Hub. BIRDS is an initiative to bring together ecosystem partners to shape India as a strategic destination for aerospace engineering, maintenance, repair and sustainment services. This is a one-of-its-kind initiative that seeks to provide customers with best-in-class solutions, efficient turnaround times, and optimal economical value, all available in-country. Under this program, we have now signed strategic partnerships with leading indigenous players like Horizon Aerospace, Air Works, and AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL). An important aspect of the hub is training programs to increase skilled manpower by developing sub-tier suppliers and medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) to build high-quality MRO capabilities in India. Our programs have skilled more than 3,700 frontline aerospace manufacturing workers and aircraft maintenance engineers.
Our joint venture with Tata, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), in Hyderabad is already in its sixth year of operation. Spread over 14,000 sq. ft., this state-of-the-art facility with over 500 engineers and technicians, demonstrates Boeing’s commitment towards the aerospace and defense ecosystem in India. An example of Boeing’s commitment towards Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The TBAL facility is producing aero-structures for Boeing’s Apache helicopter, including fuselages, secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for Indian and global customers. Apache fuselages and structures made in this cutting-edge factory are not just for the Indian Army but also customers around the world, including the U.S. Army. As of September 2022, TBAL has delivered more than 170 fuselages for Boeing customers around the world.
We’re engaging with the Indian Air Force on their current and future requirements for national security and regularly engage in discussions over the value our portfolio can deliver to develop the capabilities they require for the execution of their missions. The future of the partnership between Boeing and the Indian Air Force looks promising. We continue to see several opportunities to collaborate and stay committed to supporting and enabling this progress.
