• Will feature advanced defence and commercial capabilities at Aero India 2021
  • Highlights F/A-18 Block III and F-15EX fighter solutions
  • Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub

New Delhi. 01 February 2021. Boeing reiterated its committment to India’s aerospace and defence march keeping in step with Indian government’s Make in India drive and Atmanirbhar Bharat goal.

The American aerospace major shared its 2021 growth strategy for the Indian market, underscoring its confidence in the fundamentals of India’s aviation and defence industry, and projecting future growth for the sector. The company reiterated its commitment to being trusted partners to the Indian armed forces and airline customers as the world weathers the challenges of the pandemic.

“India’s aerospace industry is persevering through the global pandemic, which has brought significant challenges. The nation’s fundamental growth drivers remain resilient and robust, making India an attractive business destination globally, and Boeing is committed to the advancement of India’s aerospace industry,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India. “We are excited about the potential for partnership and growth in India and look forward to the dialogue with our customers, partners and industry at Aero India 2021.”

Boeing will hold discussions with customers and industry partners about its range of capabilities in multi-role fighter aircraft, vertical lift platforms, aerial multi-role tankers, unmanned systems and commercial platforms, in addition to technologies, services, world-class sustainment and training capabilities.

Boeing’s exhibit at Aero India at Hall C (C5.2 and C5.3), themed “Building The Future Together”, will focus on its partnerships with India’s armed forces and highlight the strategic investments the company has made to develop India’s indigenous aerospace and defence ecosystem. At the exhibit, Boeing will feature a range of advanced capabilities including the F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet, F-15EX, KC-46A, AH-64E Apache, P-8I, Chinook, 737-10 and 787-9.

Boeing’s presence at the show will conform to the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Defence and the State Government to ensure the safety of its employees and visitors at the exhibit.

At a Boeing India news conference held today in New Delhi, Boeing discussed the advantages of the F/A-18 Block III offering for the Indian Navy. The Super Hornet’s unique differentiators for the Indian Navy include its two-seater carrier-compatibility capability which provides operational flexibility, and opportunities to integrate future technologies related to manned-unmanned interface from aircraft carriers. The F/A-18 Super Hornet recently successfully concluded ski-jump tests at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, demonstrating its compatibility with Indian Navy carriers.

Boeing also shared information about the F-15EX, which is the latest and most advanced version of the combat-proven, multi-role, all-weather day/night F-15 aircraft family. The F-15EX can offer a future-ready, multi-role solution to the Indian Air Force in the form of unmatched payload, performance, and persistence by integrating leading edge technologies, networks, and weapons and sensors.  

In addition, Boeing announced the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub initiative that envisions a competitive MRO ecosystem for engineering, maintenance, skilling, repair and sustainment services of defence and commercial aircraft in India, as part of its commitment to supporting and strengthening indigenous aerospace and defence capabilities in the country. The initiative is a first that will benefit Indian customers with best-in-class solutions, efficient turnaround times, and optimal economic value, all available in-country. The BIRDS Hub will also focus on skill development programs that will help suppliers develop capabilities and gain experience across Boeing platforms.

Boeing continues to invest in partnerships across the ecosystem in skilling, research & technology, and manufacturing that contribute to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision of the government of India.

Due to the significant impact of COVID-19 on the commercial aviation market, forecasts indicate that it will take around three years for air travel to return to 2019 levels and a few years beyond that to return to long term growth trends. India’s large domestic passenger market relative to total passenger travel (domestic and international) presents an opportunity for a quicker recovery when the COVID-19 pandemic abates. India is expected to grow at a world-leading compound annual growth rate of 5.2 percent through 2039. This is mainly contributed by the rapidly growing middle class in India.