Tripartite agreement between HAL-Boeing-Mahindra

The US Aerospace giant company Boeing have signed a tripartite agreement with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and private company Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) for the manufacture of F/A-18 Super Hornet multirole combat aircraft in India (painting above). Announcing this at the recently held DefExpo 2018 in Chennai, Pratyush Kumar, Boeing India President, said: “Our partnership with HAL and Mahindra will enable us to optimise the full potential of India’s public and private sector to deliver next-generation F/A-18 fighter capabilities. Together we can deliver an affordable, combat-proven fighter platform for India, while adding growth momentum to the Indian aerospace ecosystem with manufacturing, skill-development, innovation and engineering and job creation,” he added. Boeing will reportedly be responding not only to the IAF’s recently issued RFI for 110 aircraft for the IAF but has earlier received the Indian Navy’s RFI for 57 carrier-borne fighters.

Boeing’s objective is not only to build the F/A-18 Super Hornet in an entirely new and state-of-the-art production facility in India but one which can be utilised for other futuristic programmes including the Indian Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.

T Suvarna Raju, HAL Chairman and MD, said: “The partnership with Boeing and Mahindra Defence Systems will create an opportunity to develop capabilities of the aerospace industry and strengthen indigenous platforms in India.”