| Boeing is in talks with the Indian government for supplying multi-role combat aircraft (MCA) that are to be built on the Hornet (F15 and F18) platform. |
| The aircraft manufacturer is also looking at replacing the ageing Russian MiG-21s of the Indian Air Force with either F-15 or F-18 fighter planes. |
| "India is a huge market for Boeing""$10-15 billion in the next couple of years. We have evinced interest in shipping MCAs to the Indian government and expect a request for a proposal to be submitted by the end of this year," Jim Albaught, president and CEO of Integrated Defense Systems, a Boeing subsidiary, told visiting reporters from the Asia-Pacific region here today. |
| The company intends to build the MCA under a strategic alliance with Defence Research & Development Organisation and Indian Space Research Organisation. Boeing intends to outsource components for the MCA from Larsen & Toubro and has begun talks with the company. |
| Boeing is also looking at selling either F-15 or F-18 fighter planes to India as replacements for India's ageing MiG-21s. India has over 500 MiG series aircraft, which the country intends to replace with a new fleet of fighter planes. |
| If the order is placed, Boeing will be selling around 126 planes in the first tranche, with the remaining to be shipped in two or more phases. |
| Albaught will travel to India next week to discuss this with the government. The company also intends to sell radars, airborne early-warning and control-capability aircraft, and missiles. |
| The aircraft manufacturer is also interested in the Indian commercial aviation sector and expects to sell over a 100 jets in the next couple of years. |
| (The author's trip to the US was sponsored by Boeing) |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard