Boost for Make in India: Now, Boeing and Tata ink pact to build aerospace kit, drones

In another boost for Make in India, Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems ( TASL) have agreed to work together on manufacturing aerospace and defence equipment including unmanned aerial vehicles, the US company said on Wednesday. Boeing said in a statement that the two firms intend to sell into markets products that they have jointly developed. The Narendra Modi-led government is trying to encourage more companies to manufacture in India and boost skilled employment, particularly in defence. Tata Advanced Systems, which already works with Airbus Group and Lockheed Martin, is owned by conglomerate Tata Sons. The agreement was signed by Shelley Lavender, president of Boeing Military Aircraft and Sukaran Singh, managing director and chief executive officer of TASL. TASL already has a contract to manufacture aerostructures for Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook and AH-6i helicopters. [caption id=“attachment_2343932” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Boeing CH-47 Chinook[/caption] The collaboration, which is in line with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, will not only work in the domestic market but will also be for international markets. “This agreement with TASL is significant because it demonstrates Boeing’s commitment to expanding its aerospace manufacturing footprint in India,” Lavender was quoted as saying in a Boeing statement. “As we step into our 100th year in business, a new aerospace partnership with India is the perfect milestone to accelerate the momentum we have generated for making in India,” said Pratyush Kumar, president for Boeing India. “It is noteworthy that TASL will produce Chinook helicopter parts in India even before the procurement contract is signed with the Indian government,” he said. Government is in the process of clearing a contract worth over USD 2.5 billion for 22 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers. S Ramadorai, Chairman of TASL, said this gives them an opportunity to explore the massive potential in India for aerospace manufacturing and make the investments required to grow the industry. Last month, Airbus Helicopters and Mahindra Defence, a Mahindra Group announced a plan to produce helicopters to cater to India’s military requirements as the Modi government readies to place $10 billion worth of helicopter orders for reconnaissance, surveillance and naval utility.