The Hindu Business Line : Boeing’s India arm may bid for $20-b defence deals

Dr Ian Thomas, President, Boeing India, at a meeting on United States-India Economic Cooperation jointly organised by CII and USIBC in Hyderabad on Thursday. —

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Hyderabad, Sept. 25 The Indian subsidiary of Boeing Co, Boeing International Corporation India Private Ltd (BICIPL), is looking to bid for the $20-billion worth defence aircraft orders expected in India over the next 10-15 years.

“As a company half of our revenues come from the defence sector, so we are actively working with the Ministry of Defence to compete for a number of opportunities in India,” Dr Ian Thomas, President, Boeing India, said on the sidelines of a conference here on Thursday.

Patrol aircraft

The company plans to bid for the maritime patrol aircraft, fighters in the form of the F-18 Super Hornets, heavy lift helicopters, attack helicopters and host of other opportunities that the sector offers.

In addition, it is also eyeing orders for 1,001 commercial airplanes worth over $105 billion that India would require over the next 20 years.

Dr Thomas said, Boeing in India is also very much engaged in the productivity side by building a number of long-term strategic partnerships in key areas such as information technology, business process and knowledge sourcing, engineering, R&D activities and components.

It is also in talks with Tata Industries for its proposed joint venture company that will make aerospace components.

Boeing and Tata had signed a pact to form a joint-venture company that will initially invest $500 million for defence-related aerospace component manufacturing in India.

Offset policies

Dr Thomas pointed out that the offset policies can be a useful tool for economic development.

“There are different offset policies for commercial planes and defence products and services. We are working closely with the Union Ministry for Commerce and Industry on the commercial plane offset programme and with Union Defence Ministry of defence offsets,” he said.

Boeing plans to establish a $100-million MRO facility in Nagpur and pilot training facility in Mumbai.

Dr Thomas, however, did not want to comment on when the MRO will be operational.