Boeing-L&T to scout for biz opportunities in defense

Mumbai, February 08, 2007: The Boeing Company today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), India's largest engineering and construction company, for the joint exploration of business opportunities in India's defense sector. The signing ceremony took place at the Aero India Aerospace Show in Bangalore .

"The MoU with Boeing adds a new, international dimension to our engagements in the strategic sectors of defense and aerospace," said M. V. Kotwal, Senior Executive Vice President of L&T, in charge of the Company's Heavy Engineering Division. "As a major supplier of critical systems to India's defense sector for more than four decades, we have worked closely with the defense establishment in developing and putting into production a range of advanced systems. This new agreement will add depth to our capabilities in the aerospace and defense sectors."

"Our goal is to identify and build strong partnerships with a number of key Indian companies. We are very pleased to announce this agreement with L&T, which we see as a positive example of much more to come," said Mark Sullivan, Vice President of International Business Development, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "We want to match the best of India with the best of Boeing, to the equal long-term benefit of both."

While offering defense products to India, Boeing's business strategy aims to transform product sales into a springboard for private and public industrial partnerships.

L&T is a technology-driven engineering, manufacturing and construction company with global operations. It is a company characterized by strong customer orientation, professionalism, transparency and the demonstrated ability to meet global benchmarks. L&T has strong international linkages through technology partnerships and ongoing relationships with global suppliers, consultants and customers.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.4 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.