Boeing Co and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd have agreed to float a joint venture to make airframe parts for the US plane maker's AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in India.
Financial details of the deal, however, were not disclosed.
The joint venture comes after Boeing in September won an order to supply 15 Chinook and 22 Apache helicopters to India's armed forces.
The JV will look to compete for additional manufacturing work for both commercial and defence contracts. The two companies would also look for opportunities to collaborate on development and selling of integrated systems, they said in a joint statement.
“This partnership will capitalize on India’s industrial capability, innovation and talent to contribute to Boeing’s long-term competitiveness,” said Chris Chadwick, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security.
Boeing India president Pratyush Kumar said the company has doubled its sourcing from the country over the past year and plans to increase it.
This is not the first time that Boeing and has entered into a business partnership with a Tata group company.
Tata Advanced Materials Ltd has delivered composite panels for power and mission equipment cabinets and auxiliary power unit door fairings for the P-8I long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. It makes complex floor beams out of composite materials for Boeing’s Dreamliner planes. It has also provided ground support equipment for the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter.
Tata Advanced Systems makes missile and radar components, communication and surveillance equipment, and aerostructures, among other products, for defence and aerospace industries.
