Boeing IDS president Jim Albaugh believes that India will become one of its most important export markets for the company's military products in the coming years due to the country's huge armed forces modernisation programme.
The company made a breakthrough in the country earlier this year when it signed a deal for eight P-8 Poseidon long-range maritime patrol aircraft in a $2.1 billion deal. Its F/A-18E/F fighter is also in contention in India's medium multi-role combat aircraft competition, in which the country is seeking 126 fighters that could be worth $10-12 billion.
The CH-47F Chinook heavylift helicopters and AH-64D Apache attack helicopters are also in the running in existing requirements, while New Delhi has also issued a request for information for tactical transport aircraft for which Boeing is offering the C-17.
"India is looking for tactical aircraft, maritime patrol, heavylift helicopters, tactical transport aircraft, attack helicopters and even airborne early warning systems in the future. We can offer something in all of those segments and the country is a great opportunity for us," he says.
Boeing has also been establishing closer ties with Indian industry in order to help it to win more awards and to meet the country's stringent offset requirements, which vary between 30% and 50% of a contract's final value.
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Source: Flight Daily News
