Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The Boeing company said Thursday it had inked a $4.5 million (Rs.225 million) deal with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for weapons bay doors for the eight maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft the Indian Air Force (IAF) is purchasing from the US aerospace major.
“A contract has been signed with HAL for the delivery of weapons bay doors and the first delivery will be by the end of 2010,” Vivek Lall, country head Of Boeing Defence, Space and Security, told reporters here.

The deal for the eight P8-I aircraft is worth $ 1.1 billion, of which Boeing has to reinvest $640 million in India as part of its offsets obligations.

“Although HAL provides other equipment for the P-8I through its avionics division in Hyderabad, this is the first P-8I offset package that Boeing has directly executed with India’s largest aerospace company,” Lal added.

“HAL’s consistent performance in quality, cost and delivery in manufacturing aerostructures and composite assemblies is the key to securing further orders from Boeing, with whom we share a strong relationship,” said Soundara Rajan, HAL’s director for corporate planning and marketing.

The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the US Navy. India is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, which took place in January 2009.

“The P-8I is a true multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that features greater flexibility and a broader range of capabilities then MPAs currently in service,” a Boeing statement said.

“It can operate effectively over land or water while performing anti-submarine warfare missions; search and rescue; maritime interdiction; and long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance,” the statement added.

HAL has alredy begun supplying fuselage parts for the formidable Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet combat jet in what is seen as global recognition for the Indian aeronautical industry. The F-18 is one of the six aircraft contending for an IAF order for 126 jets.

HAL has already sent five sets of the F-18’s gun bay doors (GBDs) to Boeing and 13 more are under manufacture as part of an initial contract.

Lall, said this contract was not tied to India buying the F-18 but was part of a Boeing initiative to source $1 billion worth of parts and services from HAL.