Interview | Spokesperson, the Boeing Company

F/A-18 Super Hornet

How can Boeing help in building India’s defence-industrial capacities?

At Boeing, our overall strategy in India is to be embedded as a long-term partner contributing to the growth of the local aerospace industry ecosystem and harnessing India’s full potential as an industrial base. We have significantly invested in developing India’s indigenous aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem over the years. We support the country’s aspirations for manufacturing, skilling and innovation. Our suppliers in India manufacture critical components for some of the world’s most advanced commercial airplanes and defence platforms.

Boeing’s joint venture, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) is already delivering entire fuselages for the AH-64 Apache, the world’s most advanced combat helicopter.

Let’s take the example of building a fighter ecosystem in India. The key to successful ‘Make in India’ in Aerospace & Defence is to have a globally competitive manufacturing base in the country. In our experience, the ability of a vendor to deliver the jets on time, with world-class quality is directly proportional to the maturity of the manufacturing base. Growing this competitive industrial capability takes time and investment. It doesn’t happen overnight. Today, Boeing has over 160 suppliers in India who provide parts and assemblies for some of Boeing’s most advanced airplanes and platforms.

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As part of our proposed F/A-18 Super Hornet ‘Make in India’ plan, Boeing will not shift an existing Super Hornet production line to India, but will create an entirely new facility. This advanced manufacturing facility, when completed, will be the premier Super Hornet production facility in the world. Additionally, capability created through the Super Hornet and this ‘Factory of the Future’ will prove to be invaluable to the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Boeing’s partners