In a move aimed at making India – a global defence hub, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with US aerospace and defence majors Boeing & Raytheon and urged them to take advantage of the policy initiatives in India that are aimed at ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for World’.
The defence minister is on a five-day US visit during which he will be taking part in the fourth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
The Office of the Defence Minister of India took to Twitter and informed that, “Rajnath Singh met with the U.S. aerospace & defence majors Boeing and Raytheon after reaching Washington DC. He exhorted the companies to take advantage of policy initiatives in India to steadily march from ‘Make in India’ towards ‘Make for the World’.”
Rajnath Singh arrived in Washington DC on Sunday (10th April) as part of his five-day US visit and he will be there till April 15. During this time, he will hold talks with the US leadership on ways to deepen the India-US strategic partnership.
Boeing’s bit in Indian defence ecosystem
US aerospace and defence firm Boeing is a major partner of India’s defense force with its supply of 11 C-17 Globemaster IIIs, 11 P-8Is (with one more on order), 22 AH-64E Apaches and 15 CH-47F(I) Chinooks.
In 2020, Boeing inked an agreement with the Government of India for the acquisition of six AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Indian Army.
Established in 2017, Boeing Defense India (BDI) is the local operating entity that is expanding its engagement in India to deliver advanced capability and readiness to India’s Armed Forces.
Further, the US multinational corporation is also developing a competitive supplier base in-country that is integrated into Boeing’s global supply chain. With a local sustainment footprint, indigenous execution and local training, the firm is ensuring the high availability of platforms to Boeing customers for missions at a competitive cost structure.
BDS has a proven portfolio of products and services for India, which ranges from intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, tankers, and unmanned systems among others
Raytheon’s defence technologies in India
Raytheon Technologies’ support of India’s aerospace and defense sector dates back to the 1960s. Today, the company’s businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense – offer a plethora of products and services for commercial and government customers.
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Across its four businesses, the US defence major employs about 4,300 people in India. Raytheon sites in India serve a substantial customer base, including local and international governments, aerospace OEMs, and defence contractors.
Further, Raytheon Technologies is contributing to Make In India with its design, capability and engineering centers; Skill India with its training center; and many STEM education programs, internships and scholarships to cultivate a highly-skilled future workforce in aerospace and defense.
The company is also partnering with firms based in India to develop talent and source products locally, in support of the Make in India initiative, and to help the country in its push toward net-zero emissions.
PBNS/AIR
