Tata-Boeing’s Apache unit takes off

Hyderabad: Tata-Boeing Aerospace (TBAL), a joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), on Thursday inaugurated its facility to co-produce fuselages for the AH-64 Apache helicopter here. The roll out of the first fuselage is expected this year. 

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Telangana Minister for Industries and IT, KT Rama Rao inaugurated the facility located in Adibhatla near to the city.

Spread over 14,000-square metres and employing 350 highly skilled workers, the facility will be the sole global producer of fuselages for AH-64 Apache helicopter delivered by Boeing to its global customers including the US Army, according to a joint press release from Tata and Boeing said. 

The Tata-Boeing facility will also produce secondary structures and vertical spar boxes of this multi-role combat helicopter. The delivery of the first fuselage is expected in 2018, it added. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sitharaman said: “I congratulate Tata and Boeing for making Apache fuselages with zero defect. TBAL made substantial investment in the defence space. After May 2014, there has been a great push to revive manufacturing.” 

TBAL, Boeing’s first equity JV in India, is the result of a 2015 partnership agreement with TASL. Construction of the manufacturing facility began in 2016 and was completed within the scheduled time frame. 

Saying that TBAL is just the beginning of Boeing’s future journey of partnership with India, Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India said: “Boeing and TASL have worked closely to develop a pool of highly skilled aerospace talent through skill development initiatives. We see this as a major step towards future opportunities to pursue the co-development of integrated systems in aerospace and defence.” 

Sukaran Singh, MD and CEO, Tata Advanced Systems, said: “The inauguration of the TBAL facility marks an important milestone in our collaborative engineering journey with Boeing. As India focuses on indigenous manufacturing in the defence market, this partnership is testimony to Tata Group’s commitment to develop global high-end technology in defence manufacturing, making India more self-reliant.” 

Banmali Agrawala, President, Infrastructure, Defence and Aerospace, Tata Sons, said: “Tata is a significant player in the global aerospace market focused on leveraging opportunities in global markets and reducing India’s reliance on imports in defence related requirements, 60 per cent of which is met through imports. 

With the streamlining of the export regulation process under the Strategy for Defence Exports (SDE) of the Centre, and with established capabilities and demonstrated deliveries, we are poised to emerge as a supplier of choice for global OEMs.” More than 2,300 Boeing-made Apache helicopters are operated by customers around the world since the aircraft entered production. 

The Boeing-made Apache helicopter has been selected for acquisition by the armed forces of 16 countries, including India. The Indian ministry of defence finalised an order with Boeing for 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters in September 2015, deliveries for which are scheduled to begin in 2019. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus, Tata Sons, and Leanne Caret, President and CEO, Boeing Defence, Space and Security also spoke at the function.