Made in India parts for Chinook, Apache copters

The world’s largest aerospace company Boeing of the US on Wednesday entered into a long-term agreement with two other technology firms to source the components for its Chinook helicopter, which is soon to become part of the Indian Air Force. 

The US company signed the agreement with Fokker Technologies, a division of GKN Aerospace, and Aequs of India, during the Boeing India Supplier Conference in Hyderabad. 

India signed a nearly 3 billion dollars deal for purchase of 22 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers with American aviation giant and the US government in September this year with the first helicopter is likely to be handed over in the next three to four years.

As per the agreement between Boeing and Aequs, the company will supply machined parts which will be made in India for the Chinook heavy lift helicopter. Fokker Technologies will build the parts into final sub-assemblies in facilities in Papendrecht, Netherlands. “This agreement between Fokker Technologies and Aequs is significant because it capitalises on India’s industrial capability, innovation and talent to contribute to the country’s long-term competitiveness as a global aerospace leader,” Boeing India president Pratyush Kumar said.

“Boeing is rapidly expanding its supplier footprint in the country to reinforce our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and we have doubled our sourcing from India in the last 12 months,” he said. 

Boeing has also signed an agreement with Tata Advanced Systems in November to create a joint venture manufacture Apache fuselages in India. 

In recent years, Boeing has gained a considerable foot hold in India’s defence market, successfully concluding multi-billion dollar deals, including that of C-17 Globemaster, P-8i long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Indian and most recently the Chinook and Apache helicopters contract.