Boeing-Tata JV to make fuselage for Apache helicopters
02 Dec 2015
US aerospace major Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) on Wednesday formally announced plans to jointly set up a centre to manufacture aerostructures for AH-64 Apache helicopter in Hyderabad.
The announcement was made by top executives of Boeing India and Tata Advanced Systems Limited in the presence of Telangana's information technology minister KT Rama Rao, on the sidelines of a Boeing suppliers' meet.
The facility, which will come up on the outskirts of the city, will make the fuselage for Apache helicopters, Boeing India president Pratyush Kumar and TASL managing director Sukaran Singh said.
Details of the extent of land to be made available, the exact location and the timelines are yet to be firmed up.
Briefing media after participating in the suppliers' meeting at the ongoing Defence and Aerosupply Conclave 2015 today, the minister said that the signing of the JV was a historic occasion.
"I can assure you that this is just the beginning," he said, adding that chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has plans for aerospace and defence sectors, going forward.
"We already have several large facilities in the existing aerospace park at Adibhatla and are in the process of setting up three more such exclusive, aerospace and defence sector-specific parks in Nadirgul, Eliminedu and another to the North of Hyderabad, the exact location of which we are yet to zero in on," said Rama Rao.
Mr. Pratyush Kumar termed it a special day when they met over 100 Indian buyers and vendors. It marked a special occasion. The JV would initially start with making aero structures, with the Apache fuselage and move on to manufacture of advanced systems in the future.
"We have been in Telangana State for over 5 years and are very happy with the experience. The JV will truly be a Make in India initiative," Mr. Sukaran Singh said.
He said the coming together of Boeing and TASL will spur their suppliers intop more action and thereby create more employment.
The minister also said the state government was planning to set up skill development and training facilities. "We have had positive expressions of interest from Aerocampus Acquitaine in Bordeaux, France and from Pratt & Whitney for establishing their own centres for skill development," Rama Rao added.
