Boeing has said that it could 'make in India' a state of the art fighter plane.
India's search for a modern new fighter after the modified Rafale deal has just seen a new twist. The world's biggest airplane manufacturer Boeing has said that it could 'make in India' a state of the art fighter plane.
Boeing makes planes like the F-18 Hornet which was once in the race for India's contract but lost to the French Rafale.
India had initially decided to buy 126 fighter planes from Rafale but after coming to power, the current government cancelled the previous contract and settled for 36 fighter jets mainly because the cost was too high. The Indian Air Force needs many more fighter planes with the capability of interception, ground attack and air defence.
In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Boeing chairman James McNerney has said that his company is willing to make a fighter jet in India and "India will get technology that can be used elsewhere in manufacturing."
Mr. McNerney said he expected the Indian government to invite bids within two years for a new fighter jet contract as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India scheme aimed at boosting local manufacturing.
"Make in India is a very important initiative for the country," Mr McNerney said.
"Make in India is not just someone handing you a blueprint and you make it. It can't be that way. I think the vision of the prime minister is more than that."
He also said the company is considering assembling either the Apache combat helicopter or Chinook chopper in India.
Boeing last month won a $3 billion order to supply 37 military helicopters to India - 22 Apache and 15 Chinook helicopters.
Currently, the beams of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which can be called the spine of the aircraft are being made in a Nagpur facility.
Mr McNerney also said Boeing is looking at partnering with India in space technology. He felt that opportunities for partnership in a range of areas had shot up after the civil nuclear deal was signed between India and the US.
The Boeing Chief said global CEOs were happy that India was starting to listen to them, and added that he was very optimistic about India. However, he said that some things needed to change, especially the tax regime and long delays in dispute resolution.