By Invitation | Managing director, Boeing Defence India, Surendra Ahuja || March 2021

What according to you are the future opportunities for Boeing in India especially in the defence sector?

Boeing has been working with India’s defence forces for many years supporting their mission-readiness and modernisation objectives. Our portfolio of products and services offer unmatched operational capabilities across the entire mission spectrum.

In addition to our response to the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Request for Information (RFI) for the 114 MRFA and the Indian Navy’s (IN) MRCBF with the F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet, there are several other opportunities we are pursuing here in India. In 2020, the ministry of defence (MoD) signed the contract for the acquisition of an additional six Apaches for the Indian Army. We’re also having discussions with IAF on their tanker requirements.

We are seeing the growth of our services business and with it, in the value Boeing is able to provide through the lifecycle support. We are working with the IAF and the Indian Navy to provide exceptional operational capability and readiness for the P-8Is, the C-17s, and the Head of State aircraft through sustenance contracts, and the Chinooks and Apaches through warranty.

The recent developments in India’s space arena that allow the private sector to participate in this sector are positive. We look forward to partnering with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in their endeavours. We want to bring the best of Boeing to India and the best of India to Boeing and to the world.

The defence MRO market segment in India is projected to reach an approximate figure of USD2.5 billion by 2025? Do you propose to offer any solutions on this front?

Last year, the MoD signed a contract for the acquisition of six additional Apaches for the Indian Army. Significant parts of these aircraft will be b