Boeing hopes to prove itself and its products worthy to win a share of the country’s enormous market

I would like, first, to extend a warm welcome to Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik as he steps into the role of Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force (IAF). Reaching the position of Chief is a prestigious honor to those called upon to lead one of the world’s great air forces. Air Chief Marshal Naik’s appointment caps an illustrious career on the one hand, and on the other, marks the transition of immense responsibility from the trusted and very capable hands of Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major. The Boeing Company congratulates both these dedicated and respected officers and wishes them well.

There is, and has been for several years now, much talk in the salons of Delhi of the state of the Indo-US bilateral relationship. In fact, I was given the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh last fall after his return from a visit to the US. We discussed many things together, but mostly our interest centered on the Prime Minister’s warm reception in Washington and the progress made in the Indo-US bilateral relationship symbolised by the civilian nuclear deal nearing final stages of approval.

When they meet, Prime Ministers and Presidents receive great attention because of the opportunity to read, through their personal bonding, the temperature of the ties between their respective countries. On both counts, the Indo-US relationship is healthy, vibrant and growing. Less visible a role in that relationship, but no less important, is the work Indian and American companies continue to do in weaving business deals that form many of the threads in this ever-expanding tapestry of ties between the two nations.

This March, Boeing announced the opening of the company’s new Research & Technology-India centre in Bangalore to help sustain the company’s competitive technological edge while enhancing India’s aerospace capabilities. The previous month, Boeing and Bharat Electronics Limited announced plans for the joint development of an analysis and experimentation centre in Bangalore to assist India in modernising its defence forces. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems has also inked a memorandum of understanding with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to bring more than $1 billion (Rs 4,745 crore) of new aerospace manufacturing work to India. Such concrete steps are consolidating Boeing’s industrial and defence footprint in India. The Boeing Company stands almost alone among aerospace companies in boasting a rich 60-year legacy in India, through decades of commercial passenger jet sales to airlines in India.

In 2004, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) joined Boeing Commercial Aircraft in the Indian market and jointly undertook a two-pronged business strategy. Developed at the highest levels of our company, the strategy aimed to identify immediate sales opportunities, and then to seek out promising Indian companies for long-term win-win industrial partnerships, beneficial to both India and Boeing. We are continuing to follow that strategy, because Boeing’s goal and ambition is to be ranked India’s aerospace and defence partner. I have said before that my company sees a potential of $31 billion (Rs 1,46,890 crore) in potential defence business in India in the next five to 10 years. This is an enormous market, and Boeing hopes to prove itself and its products worthy to win a share of it.

Boeing’s P-8I has just won the confidence of the Indian Navy with the sale of eight of these advanced maritime patrol aircraft. Currently, Boeing is competing with five other companies to offer new multi-role combat fighters to the IAF to help fill the growing vacuum in IAF squadron strength. Boeing’s fighter offer is the proven and robust F/A-18IN Super Hornet—the most advanced combat fighter in production today. If India initiates competitions for heavy lift and attack helicopters, Boeing stands ready to offer two of the most formidable and capable rotorcraft flying today—the CH-47F Chinook and the AH-64D Apache, respectively. We also believe Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III can bring long-range strategic military and humanitarian airlift capability to support India’s growing regional and world role.