“Boeing,” is an American aerospace company that you are well aware of. Eight decades have passed since Boeing stepped foot in India! Although the journey of Boeing Business in India began back in the 1940s with the introduction of two Boeing aircraft in the Indian Air force.
Today, Boeing is no less than a key player in the evolution of the aviation sector of our nation. But why only Boeing and not any other company? You may ask. The reason is Boeing offered outstanding services with advanced technologies that created a sustainable value for Indian aerospace.
Do you know it has more than 7000 employees in India? Not just that, it has proudly collaborated with the “Make-In-India” initiative. These facts may make you ponder why Boeing visions its long-term business strategy in India. Simply because it already has a significant presence in India with Indian companies, government, and institutions.
In this article, you will get a thorough Breakdown of Boeing Business in India. Stay tuned!
A Brief Overview of Boeing Business in India
As you know, Boeing is an MNC associated with designing, manufacturing, and selling airplanes, rockets, and satellites all over the world. Boeing is an active participant in many sectors in India as well. These are-
- Aerospace
- Defense
- Space
- Engineering & Technology
- Aircraft Sales & MRO services
- Research & Development
- Skill Development
- Commercial Business with partnerships and joint ventures
A detailed breakdown
Aerospace
In December 2022, Boeing declared that India is the key nation for a sustainable aerospace program. Boeing is the largest contributor to the Indian Aerospace sector. It supplies commercial jets, military transport aircraft, and helicopters to numerous Indian airlines, defense forces, and government agencies. It works with Indian companies to manufacture and assemble various components of airplanes like wing structures, floor beams, and fuselage panels, etc.
Have you heard about net zero carbon emission goals? It is an objective to reduce the carbon emissions from flying. Recently, in the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) meeting, Boeing vowed to reach the net-zero carbon aviation goal by 2050.
Defense
If you are a defense enthusiast then you have heard about “Apache” and “Chinook.” No worries if you haven’t! These are the Indian defense helicopters that Boing produced with a joint venture with Indian conglomerate Tata Group. Other than Tata Advanced Systems, it is also partnered with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). Boeing is a major supplier of defense products and services to the Indian Defense market. These include military aircraft, helicopters, air weapon systems, logistics support, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), defense electronics, etc.
Boeing Defense India (BDI)
It is the local operating entity, especially established in 2017 to deliver advanced defense supplies to the Indian military. Till today, it supplied the following defense aircraft-
- C-17 Globemaster IIIs- 11
- P-8Is- 11
- AH-64 E Apaches- 22
- CH-47F (I) chinooks- 15
Other than the aircraft, it also involves sustainable footprints, indigenous execution, and local training to offer the best products at an affordable cost. It also offers ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems, tankers, and unmanned systems.
Space
Boeing has collaborated with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) for the joint building of space technologies and services for Indian customers. Space technologies include communication satellites, rockets, launch services, and space-based communications systems. Also, it actively took part in the Mars Orbiter Mission of ISRO.
Engineering & Technology
Other than aviation and defense, Boeing has a significant presence in the Engineering & Technology sector of our nation. With “engineering & technology,” I mean all the advanced technologies that involve aerodynamics, material science, and avionics. For this purpose, the company consistently works with scientists and engineers from India. It has several research and development centers and facilities all across the country.
Aircraft Sales & MRO Services
Do you know that Boeing is one of the largest suppliers of commercial airplanes in India? The chief clients of its airplanes are Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia India, as well as Vistara. Apart from selling, it also provides MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) services for those aircraft, to maintain their good conditions and to reduce operational costs.
Quite amazing! Isn’t it?
One of the recent massive deals between Boeing and Air India is for 150 Boeing 737 Max jets. It was a big win for Boeing because it firmly held its position in the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing aviation market i.e., India.
Research & Development
Recently, Boeing announced the establishment of an R&D campus in Bengaluru. This campus is worth $200 million (INR1,600 crore). As the American aircraft manufacturing company seeks to ramp up the research in several fields of its expertise. Therefore, it made this investment to train thousands of engineers and scientists to research on eVTOLs (Electric, Vertical, Takeoff, and Landing). Another goal of expanding the research is to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The BIETC (Boeing India Engineering & Technology Centre) employs around 4,000 professionals.
Skill Development
It is an essential part of Boeing’s business to support the aviation industry in India. This program collaborates with local universities, organizations, and research institutions to provide training and skill development for aspiring aviation professionals. Also, it helps to provide skilled professionals to the Indian aerospace and defense sector.
On January 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering & Technology Centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He appreciated Boeing’s new facility and called it a clear indication for Karnataka’s rise as a new aviation hub.
Commercial Boeing Business in India
From the above points, it is clear that as of now, Boeing is the king of the commercial aviation sector of India. It provides a wide range of aircraft ranging from passenger planes to cargo and transport planes in the Indian aviation market. To achieve this success, it formed several partnerships and joint ventures with Indian companies to develop new products and services. One such example is the partnership with the TATA group.
These partnerships immensely help the aircraft manufacturing company to better understand the Indian market. Thus, it successfully expanded its presence in the country.
Final Words for Boeing Business in India
Boeing continues to invest in India to expand its operations in the Indian market. As you have seen, Boeing is a crucial contributor to multiple aviation sectors of India ranging from defense to technology. Through its various innovative technological advancements and noteworthy business activities, it aids in the growth of the country’s aviation industry. So overall, it is committed to building long-term relationships to provide satisfactory results to its Indian partners and customers.
