Boeing has teamed with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Mahindra Defence Systems for its bid to sell more than 100 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets to India’s air force.
The partnership is aimed at bringing together the global supply chains, advanced manufacturing experience and design capabilities of all three companies to produce and support Super Hornets in India if it is selected to meet the requirement.
“Boeing is excited to team up with India’s only company that manufactures combat fighters, HAL, and Indian company that manufactures small commercial airplanes, Mahindra,” says Boeing India president Pratyush Kumar.
“This partnership brings the best of Indian public and private enterprises together in partnership with the world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing, to accelerate a contemporary 21st century ecosystem for aerospace and defence manufacturing in India”
The US manufacturer states that its ‘Make in India’ proposal would see it build a new state-of-the-art production facility in-country, which could then be used for other programmes, such as the stealthy Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Boeing is pitching the Super Hornet to meet a requirement by India’s air force for 110 fighter jets that was re-opened on 6 April.
Under the terms of a request for information issued to six suppliers, around 16 or 17 aircraft may be built outside of India, while the remainder must be built by local companies or an Indian production agency.
New Delhi is putting major emphasis on technology transfer, with bidders also having to demonstrate how they will use local companies as suppliers and in the production of the jets.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
