iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
India will soon have indigenously designed and manufactured Boeing aircraft. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the inauguration of the engineering unit of Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) in Bengaluru on Friday, January 19, that the nation will not have to wait long for aircraft that will be designed and manufactured in the subcontinent.
This was a day after BIETC received orders for 150 737 MAX narrowbody jets from Akasa Air, India’s youngest carrier. Boeing has witnessed a surge in interest for its jets in India, currently the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, with travel demand outstripping the supply of planes. Boeing has an alliance with India’s Tata Group to produce AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and 737 aircraft vertical fin structures.
In Bangalore, BIETC has set up its largest facility outside of the United States which will focus on research and development of aircraft. The company has invested $200 million in the 43-acre campus and it has employed more than 6,000 people across its various centers in India.
At the inaugural function of the engineering center in Bengaluru attended by senior Boeing executives including Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Pope, Modi stressed the need to build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India. “Given that there is so much potential in India, we need to rapidly build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in the country,” he said.
Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) has signed a contract with Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) to manufacture and supply advanced composite assemblies for Boeing 737 MAX, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner. TASL will manufacture these components from its state-of-the-art composite manufacturing facilities located in Bengaluru and Nagpur.
“This is a significant step in our continued strong engagement with the Boeing Company. This contract will pave the way for expanding and deepening the long-running collaboration between Boeing and Tata in co-developing India’s vibrant and rapidly growing aerospace manufacturing ecosystem,” said Masood Hussainy, Senior Vice President & Head of Aerostructures and Aero engines, Tata Advanced Systems.
TASL also manufactures numerous critical systems and components for some of Boeing’s most advanced products from its facilities in Nagpur, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The recent contract supplements TASL’s ongoing production of advanced composite floor beams exclusively for Boeing’s 787 from its Nagpur facility.
In Telangana, the TASL-Boeing joint venture manufactures fuselages for the Apache helicopters and vertical fin structures for the 737 family. Additionally, TASL’s manufacturing facility in Hyderabad recently added a new production line for the 737 Fan Cowl assemblies operating in coordination with the Nagpur and Bengaluru facilities.
“Our association with Tata Advanced Systems Limited continues to evolve as they consistently manufacture critical components for Boeing’s platforms with quality and precision. This contract further underscores Boeing’s commitment to advancing manufacturing capabilities with local partners, fostering growth in both India and global markets,” said Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India.
