Air Works, Indian maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, is partnering with The Boeing Company to conduct heavy maintenance checks on three Indian Navy P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft at Air Works, Hosur, demonstrating the success of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) campaign.
“This significantly expands the breadth and size of MRO in India and underscores both companies’ commitment to helping India become Aatmanirbhar in aerospace and defence,” according to a Boeing press release issued on Thursday.
- The partnership between Boeing and Air Works has resulted in quicker turnaround times and increased operating capability for important defence platforms in India.
- The relationship began with checks on the P-8I Poseidon aircraft and has since expanded to include checks and MRO on the Indian Air Force’s Boeing 737 VVIP aircraft’s landing gear.
- Air Works Group, founded in 1951, is India’s largest independent MRO, with a presence in 27 locations across the country.
According to a press release from the company, “it is the preferred MRO partner of global aviation original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), aircraft owners/operators, lessors, airlines, and the Indian defence services…”
“The company (Air Works) also performs rotary-wing aircraft modification and assembly, and is a Bell and Leonardo Authorized Service Centre (ASC),” it added.
Surendra Ahuja of Boeing Defence India called the simultaneous completion of heavy maintenance checks on three P-8I aircraft “a remarkable achievement,” adding,
"That enables us to generate significant value for our defence customers in India, and contributes to the government's vision of making India an MRO hub for the region."
The strategic partnership between Boeing and Air Works was a key first step in the establishment of the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) facility, which was announced last year.
The BIRDS hub aims to build India into an aviation and defence repair and sustainment hub through collaboration with major local enterprises and businesses.
“Maintaining such mission-critical platforms for the nation’s defence forces… indicates the ‘coming of age‘ or maturing of indigenous MRO capabilities in aviation, defence, and aerospace, which can bring tremendous advantages for the country,” said D Anand Bhaskar, president of Air Works Group.
Boeing has a supply chain in India with over 275 local companies and a joint venture to manufacture Apache helicopter fuselages.
Nearly 4,000 individuals work for the US company in India, while over 7,000 people work for its supply chain partners. India accounts for $1 billion in annual sourcing.
The Boeing India Aatmanirbharta in Defence conference, being held in New Delhi on Tuesday, will honour the two companies’ collaboration, with officials from the Indian Navy, Air Works Group, and other key supplier-partners in attendance.
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