Tata-Boeing’s Apache chopper unit in Hyderabad

Spread over 14,000-square metres and employing 350 highly skilled workers, the facility will be the sole global producer of fuselages for AH-64 Apache helicopter delivered by Boeing to its global customers including the US Army, a joint press release from Tata and Boeing said. The facility will also produce secondary structures and vertical spar boxes of this multi-role combat helicopter.

The delivery of the first fuselage is expected in 2018, it added. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Telangana Minister for Industries and IT, KT Rama Rao inaugurated the facility. 

After May 2014, there has been a great push to revive manufacturing, she added. TBAL, Boeing’s first equity JV in India, is the result of a 2015 partnership agreement with TASL. Construction of the manufacturing facility began in 2016 and was completed on schedule. 

In addition, Boeing and TASL have worked closely to develop a pool of highly skilled aerospace talent through skill development initiatives. Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India said TBAL is just the beginning of Boeing’s future journey of partnership with India. 

Over 2,300 Boeing-made Apache helicopters are operated by customers globally since the aircraft entered production.