Boeing plans to assemble Chinook or Apache helicopters in India

James McNerney, chairman, Boeing, said, “We are much closer to have assembly of one of those airplanes here. That will play out and that’s our strategy. This market is too important, capability is too high and commitment is significant and that kind of commitment is important for us.”

At a seminar organised here by Boeing, McNerney hoped that India will over the next couple of years call for bids for a fighter aircraft. “Our approach is going to be to take a current, state-of-the-art fighter and bid. The quantities are uncertain … Our bid will include a proposal to make the plane here,” he added.

Several foreign aircraft manufacturers have offered to build their fighter planes in India after the government scrapped the global tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). While India is in talks with France for a formal agreement for off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale jets (two squadrons), Indian Air Force wants at least six more MMRCA-type squadrons.

The Boeing chairman also said that on the defence side, the Indian and US governments have to decide on the issue of technology sharing. He said that given the global nature of Boeing products and technology, the American firm can play a key role in ‘Make in India’ initiative of the government here.

“If the politics here allows this initiative, to continue with the same momentum that it has today, for the next five years, the goal of moving the manufacturing contribution to the economy from 14 per cent to 25 per cent is achievable. The capability is here,” he said.