Over the past few years, Boeing has exponentially strengthened and grown its partnership with the Indian armed forces. From the C-17 Globemaster III to the P-8I and now soon to be inducted AH-64 Apaches and CH-47 Chinooks, Boeing platforms and services are actively aiding the Indian armed forces missions to protect the country’s sovereign borders.
Boeing’s commitment to deliver capable platforms that meet the Indian armed forces modernisation and mission requirements spans across the present. Our portfolio has a range of proven products that can fulfill a number of roles in present and future theatres of operations.
With the F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing can help the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force modernise their fleets with a fighter that offers true multi-role capability and a distinct combat advantage.
As India expands its air force and increases its defensive capabilities, the KC-46 is the perfect choice for a multi-role tanker-transport aircraft. The most reliable and economical tanker to operate, the KC-46 can provide India with the combat capability it needs for sovereign operations. Pegasus is the best choice for today and the decades to come. The brand new KC-46 is designed from the ground-up to be a combat-ready tanker. This means that unlike other tankers, it can operate closer to the fight, covertly and with the ability to protect itself. In India’s crowded neighborhood, it means it can be closer to action to fuel the fight.
Boeing has the right platforms and capabilities to match the evolving mission requirements of the Indian armed forces. Ranging across the entire gamut of strategic airlift, combat operations and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles, Boeing platforms provide warfighters with the capability to dominate combat areas.
As this partnership progresses, Boeing sees an opportunity to continue to provide the Indian armed forces with the capability with cutting-edge platforms that will prove to be an asset in protecting the sovereign borders of the country.
A Partnership for the Future: The F/A-18 Super Hornet
Boeing sees an opportunity to provide both the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force with the F/A-18 Super Hornet, one of the world’s preeminent multi-role fighter aircraft. The F/A-18 Super Hornet is a combat proven, supersonic, all weather multirole fighter jet with a defined flight plan to outpace threats into the 2040s. The Super Hornet Block II is the most advanced aircraft of its kind in operation today with designed-in stealth (and best stealth performance), an AESA radar and many other advanced technologies. The AESA radar in particular is an expediential leap in technology needed for current and future missions. The Super Hornet not only has a low acquisition cost, but it costs less per flight hour to operate than any other tactical aircraft in US forces inventory. Part of its affordability is because the Super Hornet is designed to need far less maintenance, which translates into the high mission availability it is synonymous with.
Creating Indigenous Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Capability
Over 160 Indian suppliers have been parts and assemblies covering aerostructures, wire harness, composites, forgings, avionics mission systems, and ground support equipment for some of Boeing’s most advanced defense platforms. Boeing’s sourcing from India has quadrupled in the past few years and now stands at $1 billion. As part of this journey, Boeing’s joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) has already begun deliveries of fuselages for the AH-64 Apache, the world’s most lethal combat helicopter. The centre is becoming the sole source of the fuselage globally.
Committed to evolving these partnerships and investments further, Boeing is proposing a world class advanced manufacturing facility in India for the F/A-18 Super Hornet with the very latest technologies in place. Furthermore, the Super Hornet is the best aircraft to get to India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. Boeing will work closely with India industry to ensure they have the very latest technologies, applying lessons learnt from the current Super Hornet production line.
Supporting Existing and Future Fleets
Boeing truly believes that its partnership with customers begins with the delivery of platforms. We remain focused on executing on commitments to customers on schedule and cost. The Indian Navy and Indian Air Force can be assured of achieving exceptional operational capability and readiness of their P-8I and C-17 fleet. Boeing aircraft have high mission readiness rates of >85%. Boeing’s investments in services infrastructure, the build-up of local capability and workforce and local partnership models will accelerate our strategy. C-17 GISP programme has become a model for the future of sustainment. The C-17 Simulator Training Centre, established by Boeing and Mahindra Defence Systems to provide training services to the Indian Air Force, completed over 1700 hours of training for aircrews and loadmasters that operate the C-17 Globemaster III in July 2017. The Centre has maintained a serviceability state of 100 percent.
With the induction of the Apache and Chinook, Boeing anticipates additional opportunities in rotorcraft training and support centers.
Courtesy: Boeing