BENGALURU: Aerospace behemoth Boeing is getting a supply chain and the aerospace ecosystem ready as part of its proposal to the Ministry of defence to establish a modern production facility in the country to roll out advanced F/A-18 Super Hornets and next generation fighters best-suited for the next century, says Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India, and vice president of Boeing International.
On Thursday, Pratyush Kumar received the first electrical panel assembly manufactured for F/A-18 Super Hornets by Bengaluru-based SASMOS HET Technologies Limited as part of a multi-million dollar deal with the local small & medium enterprise. “We will not wait for the decision or orders, but are getting the foundation ready and creating the most globally competitive supply chain in India. We have 30-odd direct and 130 indirect suppliers, and are looking at them to source components and systems (for F/A-18 Super Hornets). Our philosophy is ground up, while others work on top down models,” he told to this newspaper. In view of MoD’s decision to scout for another fighter jet beyond the Rafale, Boeing’s proposal to roll out F/A-18 Super Hornets as part of the “Make in India” initiative now figures in government-to-government discussions. “Today’s delivery of the critical electrical panel assembly is a seminal event for us. Most people will tell you we will do this or that, subject to getting orders,” he said.
