Dr Vivek Lall, Boeing IDS India Country Head, talks to SP’s Aviation on the company’s strategies and collaborations to capture the Indian market.
SP’s: What is the company profile of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS)?
Dr Vivek Lall: A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing IDS (www.boeing.com/ids/) is one of the world’s largest space and defence businesses. IDS operates in India as part of Boeing India, which has a New Delhi office staffed with 14 employees whose numbers will increase commensurate with India’s growing defence and space needs. Countrywide, there are approximately 30 Boeing employees.
Boeing IDS has a rich portfolio of products and services to offer India, such as the combatproven F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet multi-role combat fighter, the P-8I multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, the heavy lift CH-47F and MH-47G Chinook helicopters, and the combatproven attack helicopter, the AH-64D Apache Longbow. The IDS portfolio extends to the C-17 Globemaster III strategic lift cargo plane, and C4ISR platforms and Airborne Early Warning & Control Systems. IDS is also a leading provider of aerospace support systems and networkcentric operations that have high relevance to India’s requirements.
Until recently, India relied on indigenous capabilities and non-US suppliers for its defence requirements. But improved relations between Washington and Delhi have forged a stronger alliance between the two countries and created the opportunity for defence acquisitions from US manufacturers. Boeing has established important relationships with suppliers in India and is actively pursuing technical and business partnerships with Indian companies and institutions. In February 2008, The Boeing Company and Tata Industries Limited agreed on a plan to form an Indian joint venture company that will initially include more than $500 million (Rs 2,440 crore) of defence-related aerospace component work in India for export to Boeing and its international customers.
In December 2007, Boeing IDS President and CEO Jim Albaugh had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aerospace Limited to bring as much as $1 billion (Rs 4,885 crore) in exportable defence aerospace work to India. In February 2007, at Aero India, Boeing signed an MoU with Larsen & Toubro Limited, India’s largest engineering and construction company, for joint exploration of business opportunities in India’s defence sector. In November 2006, Boeing and General Electric jointly hosted a suppliers’ conference in Bangalore that was attended by more than 40 Indian companies.
Boeing’s Phantom Works has instituted a Strategic University relationship with the Indian Institute of Science to design a “wing of the future”, using advanced materials and manufacturing concepts. Boeing anticipates there will be additional significant partnerships with Indian businesses and institutions going forward.
About Boeing IDS
Boeing IDS is a $32.4 billion (Rs 1,58,280 crore) business headquartered in St. Louis, MO with 72,000 employees worldwide. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world’s largest satellite manufacturer; a foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for US missile defence; one of NASA’s largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.
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