 "Boeing CEO keen to make in India")
Aircraft maker Boeing is in “conversation” to make F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets in India. Dennis Muilenburg, who is visiting the country for the first time since becoming chief executive of the $91-billion aerospace company in July last year, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times: “The company sees the Super Hornet as an opportunity to do that to tie directly into the ‘Make in India’ strategy.”
“I would not say there is an official offer. This is a conversation we are having with interested parties right now,” he was quoted as saying.
According to an Economic Times report, Muilenburg said: “We are taking a hard look at the opportunity for the F18 fighter jet as an area where we can build industrial capacity, supply chain partnerships, technical depth, design, and manufacturing capability, in India, providing an operational capability that is useful for Indian defence forces. ‘Make in India’ is an enabler aligned with that strategy.”
Boeing has eyed a potential multi-billion deal with India, one of the world’s biggest military spenders. Earlier, the American aerospace giant had lost out on the Indian government’s medium multi-role fighter aircraft (MMRCA) procurement programme, which seeks to replace the ageing Indian Air Force jets, to French major Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter jets. However, given that, the Rafale deal for 36 planes, estimated at $9 billion, has been stuck over price negotiations, Boeing would be keen on cashing the opportunity.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all weather multi-role fighter jet capable of landing and taking off from an aircraft carrier, the company’s website says.
Muilenburg’s comments echo those of his predecessor James McNerney, who had in October said that his company would be happy to make its fighter jet F/A-18 Super Hornet in India if IAF were to buy it. McNerney had last been in India to attend a seminar hosted by Boeing in New Delhi, just after India placed an order for two of its helicopters, Chinook, used for heavy lifting, and Apache, an attack aircraft.
Boeing is also looking for other deals. The Hindustan Times quoted Muilenburg as saying: “We (Boeing and Lockheed Martin) jointly develop the F22 Raptor. Subject to all government-to-government agreements, that is an area of future investment for which we are interested in.” Similarly, the Economic Times quoted him saying: “We are engaged in a dialogue with them and the new Max (Boeing 737 Max) is a very compelling value proposition.”