Prime Minister of India will inaugurate American aircraft manufacturer Boeing’s new state-of-the-art global engineering and technology innovation campus (Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center {BIETC}), in Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru on 19 Jan 24.
The 43-acre campus, built with an investment of Rs 1,600 crore, is said to be the largest such Boeing facility outside the U.S. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), it will be a cornerstone for partnership with the startup, private, and government ecosystem in India and will help develop next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defence industry.
Additionally, the PM will also launch the Boeing Sukanya programme, which aims to support the entry of more women from across India into the country’s growing aviation sector. The programme will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector. For young girls, the program will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers. The programme will also provide scholarships to women who are training to be pilots.
Boeing
Boeing is one of the largest global aerospace manufacturers, with its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, and it employs approximately 153,000 personnel. The company designs, manufactures and sells aeroplanes, aircraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunication equipment and missiles around the world. Besides military aircraft, it has over ten thousand commercial aircraft operating all over the world.
Boeing started 107 years ago when American businessman William E. Boeing started a company named Aero Products for the manufacture of aeroplanes. About a year later, its name was changed to Boeing Airplane Company. The first aircraft was designed in 1917 and the World War I was the biggest turning point for the company. After, WW I Boeing started making commercial aircraft and continued to expand. The company has taken over 32 other companies so far.
Some of the military aircraft/helicopters manufactured by Boeing are:-
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- C-17 Globemaster III
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- CH/MH-47 Chinook
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- V-22 Osprey
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- AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter
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- AH-64D Apache
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- F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Navy fighter aircraft
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- F-15E Strike Eagle tactical fighter
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- Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight (Vertol Aircraft Corp.)
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- Boeing AH-6.
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- Boeing Vertol YUH-61.
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- Boeing Vertol XCH-62.
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- MH-139 Gray Wolf (with Leonardo S.p.A.)
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India Engagement.
Boeing has been a partner of India’s aerospace sector for almost eight decades, both with the commercial and defence aviation sectors. Boeing’s relationship with India goes back to the 1940s when the Indian Air Force inducted the Harvard Advanced Trainer and DC-3 military transport aircraft.
Boeing’s India operations include headquarters in Delhi and field service offices in Mumbai, Hindan, and Arkonam.
Military aircraft from Boeing inducted into the Indian Defence forces include:-
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- A fleet of 11 C-17 Globemaster IIIs (India is the biggest operator of these aircraft in the world, outside of the US).
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- 15 CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter.
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- 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
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- Modified Boeing transport aircraft for VIP duties.
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- Poseidon P-8I aircraft for IN (designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions).
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Besides Military aircraft, various versions of Boeing aircraft (737,747,757,777 and 787) are being used by Indian air carriers (Air India, Vistara, Blue Dart, and Akasa etc.). Akaasa has recently placed an order for 150 aircraft.
Boeing has a joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) – The Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL). This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility has been producing aero-structures for Boeing’s AH-64 Apache helicopter, including fuselages, secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for customers worldwide. Recently a new production line to manufacture complex vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes has been added.
Follow On Support, Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) And Logistics Supply Lines. Various follow-up support, logistics supply lines, training and other services for various platforms purchased by India are being offered by another division of The Boeing Company, viz. Boeing Global Services (BGS). In February 2021, Boeing has signed a strategic collaboration with aviation services provider Air Works for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of its VIP transport aircraft fleet operated by the IAF. This partnership is a first under the newly launched Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub initiative.
114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). Boeing is one of the contenders for the Indian acquisition plan, fielding its F-15 and F-18 aircraft.
Advantages
Boeing Engineering and Technology campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka will conduct core engineering and research for Boeing’s iconic products as well as future platforms. It will have future avionics manufacturing and assembly capability.
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- It will provide impetus to the Indian Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme.
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- It will provide a boost to “Make in India”, “Skill India” and “Make for the World” initiatives through investments in manufacturing, co-production, skilling, engineering, and innovation.
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- It will help the foray of the Indian defence industry into the world market and by co-development of integrated systems in aerospace and defence not just for India, but for the world.
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- It will generate employment opportunities. Today, Boeing India has 4,000 employees, and more than 7,000 people who work on dedicated supply chain jobs with Indian suppliers across manufacturing, engineering and IT sectors.
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- It will provide much-needed technology infusion into the Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem.
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- It will reinforce India’s status as a leading foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) engaged in making, engineering, and sourcing from India.
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- It will improve MRO, training and supply chain facilities.
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- It is a Win-Win situation for both.
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Coming Up:- Boeing’s Current Woes.
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References and credits
To all the online sites and channels.
- https://www.boeing.co.in/boeing-in-india/about-boeing-in-india.page
- ` https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-boeings-largest-facility-outside-the-us-in-bengaluru-on-january-19-12071891.html
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