CHENNAI: The competition to get orders for 110 aircraft for the Indian Air Force hots up at the DefExpo 2018 with Saab claiming that its aircraft Gripen E will redefine India’s aerospace, while Boeing will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to set up facility to manufacture Super Hornet in India, only if the Indian government identifies it as a partner in procuring the aircraft for the Indian Air Force.This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the seriousness of the government to procure 110 fighter aircraft. “We do not want to spend 10 years on discussions without any tangible outcomes. We will work with a sense of mission to keep our defence forces equipped with state-of-the-art systems and to create necessary domestic manufacturing ecosystem to achieve this,” Modi said, after inaugurating the DefExpo.
Saab chairman Jan Widerstorm said Gripen E technology is the latest in the world with the first customised delivery of the aircraft being scheduled for 2019. He said Saab is not only looking at transfer of technology, but also at helping India in developing the futuristic aircraft like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), an Indian programme of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
He also said Gripen Aircraft would be operational in Swedish Air Force till 2046 and it would be upgraded every now and then as per technology demands. To a query on permissions required from the US to transfer some of the technology, Saab said since HAL already has 414 engines used for light combat aircraft, it would not be a problem.Interestingly, Saab has announced plans for a partnership with the Adani Group.
Meanwhile, American aerospace major Boeing on Thursday tied up with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Mahindra Defence System to manufacture Super Hornet. While all top officials of all three majors refused to confirm the exact location where the plant would be set up, it is learnt that the new facility could come up in the newly proposed defence industrial corridor in Tamil Nadu. Pratyush Kumar, president of Boeing India, said its partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would enable Boeing to optimise the full potential of India’s public and private sector to deliver next generation of F/A 18 fighter capabilities.
While the MoU will take shape only after the deal is awarded, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited said the partnership would strengthen indigenous platforms in India.
Interestingly, Boeing’s manufacturing facility is also being considered for other programmes such as the AMCA.