STRENGTHENING AIR POWER THROUGH PLATFORMS, SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIPS

Boeing Defence India is dedicated to facilitating the modernisation and operational readiness of India's defence forces. The company is investing in the improvement and establishment of on-base MRO facilities, along with fostering partnerships throughout the ecosystem. NIKHIL JOSHI, Managing Director, Boeing Defence India, outlines the company's exciting plans

- NIKHIL JOSHI

India's aerospace and defence sector is undergoing a transformation rooted in modernisation, indigenisation and mission-readiness. At Boeing, we are proud to be a longstanding partner in this journey; one that spans more than eight decades and continues to evolve through platforms, partnerships and performance. It's a relationship built on trust, performance, and shared ambition. What began with aircraft deliveries has grown into a full-spectrum collaboration: across design, manufacturing, services, and skilling. And we're just getting started.

Platforms That Power Real Missions

India's fleet of Boeing aircraft reflects the depth of this partnership. The Indian Air Force operates 11 C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifters, 22 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, 15 CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and VVIP aircraft based on the 737 and 777 platforms. Each of these platforms plays a critical role in India's operational readiness.

Take the C-17 Globemaster III. It's not just a strategic airlifter, it's a lifeline. Whether it's deploying troops into active zones, transporting tanks and heavy equipment, or flying humanitarian missions, the C-17 has become indispensable to India's rapid response capability. During the COVID-19 crisis, these aircraft carried critical medical supplies across borders. In evacuation operations, they brought citizens home safely. The aircraft has proven time and again to be a safe, reliable and capable platform, in the most challenging environments - from remote islands to some of the highest airstrips in the world. India now operates the largest C-17 fleet outside the United States.