Thursday, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) said it had given the Indian Army the first fuselage for the six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters it had ordered. The fuselage was made at TBAL’s factory in Hyderabad, India.
Salil Gupte, president of Boeing India, said, “This is a proud milestone that shows our commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the world-class manufacturing capabilities at our joint venture Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd in Hyderabad.”
“The Apache will give a big boost to the Indian Army’s abilities, just like the AH-64 did for the Indian Air Force,” he said.
In 2020, all 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters had been sent to the Indian Air Force by Boeing.
TBAL’s 14,000-square-meter facility makes complex aerostructures for the Boeing 737 and 777 models and is the only source for Apache fuselages around the world.
The joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) has more than 900 engineers and technicians working for it. In its manufacturing processes, TASL uses cutting-edge robotics, automation, and advanced aerospace concepts.
“The teams at TBAL worked hard and worked well together to deliver the first fuselage for Boeing AH-64 Apache combat helicopters to the Indian Army,” said Sukaran Singh, managing director and chief executive officer of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
He also said that this delivery shows that India is an important place for Boeing to make things.
“We will keep working to improve our own defence manufacturing, with a strong focus on quality and on getting things done on time,” he said.
Over 190 fuselages have been made by TBAL and sent to Boeing’s Apache final assembly plant in Mesa, Arizona. More than 90% of the parts that go into these aerostructures assemblies are made in India by more than 100 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
Boeing just gave the “Supplier of the Year” award for 2022 to Tata Group out of more than 11,000 suppliers around the world.
With more than 1,275 AH-64 Apaches in use around the world and more than 4.9 million flight hours, of which 1.3 million have been in combat, the attack helicopter is known as the most advanced and tested one in the world.
The helicopter can fire a variety of weapons, including Hellfire missiles that can go from the air to the ground.
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