Boeing has highlighted advanced defence capabilities for the armed forces, partnerships to develop India’s aerospace ecosystem and reiterated its commitment to invest in India to maximise the company’s footprint. “An important part of our India strategy is ensuring our defence customers have the most advanced platforms and capabilities, supported by a services model that optimises mission readiness, high performance and safety,” stated Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India. “Another element of our strategy is to harness talent, innovation, engineering and productivity advantages that India offers to build a globally competitive aerospace and defence ecosystem that creates jobs and industrial capacity with Make in India.”
Boeing is highlighting future investments to accelerate its “Make in India” efforts and the capabilities being proposed for the Indian Armed Forces, specifically the next generation F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet fighter that brings ‘transformative capability and contemporary warfighter technologies to India. The F/A-18, on offer to the Indian Navy, is fully compatible with Indian Navy carriers and will boost the growing maritime and defence relationship between the United States and Indian Navy.’
Commitment on the commercial front
Boeing recently demonstrated its commitment to India and its developing aerospace and defence ecosystem by showcasing innovative commercial platforms, and services, including the 787 Dreamliner and 777X, at Wings India 2020. The partnership between India and Boeing has grown from strength to strength over the last 75+ years, with 3,500 people in India, and more than 7,000 people working with its over 200 supply chain partners. Boeing India employees serve communities and citizenship programmes to inspire change and have made an impact on more than 200,000 lives.
Boeing forecasts India to be the third largest global market for commercial fleet as the aviation market is resilient and the market will grow throughout 2020. Boeing forecasts air carriers in India will need about 2,500 new commercial aircraft by 2040 and Boeing is supplying the most efficient, advanced aircraft and services to airlines in India to support the exponentially growing Indian commercial aviation sector. Boeing customers in India include Air India, SpiceJet, Vistara and cargo operator Blue Dart. The company recently delivered the first Dreamliner 787-9 out of an order of six to Vistara and the longest 10 non-stop routes from India are flown in Boeing aircraft!