Boeing India, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Mahindra Defence Systems on Thursday have reached an agreement to manufacture fighter aircraft F/A-18 Super Hornet in the country. Boeing India, President, Pratyush Kumar, HAL Chairman and Managing Director, T Suvarna Raju and Mahindra Defence Systems, Chairman, S P Shukla exchanged a ‘Memorandum of Agreement for ‘Make in India fighter’ at the on-going ‘DefExpo’ near here.

While stating that the discussions on the tie-up have been going on for the last 18 months, Kumar said, “The intent of the government and the MoD (Ministry of Defence) for a strategic partnership is to produce ‘Make in India’ aircraft.” “We scanned across length and breadth of the country. We discussed with over 400 suppliers.” Kumar told reporters.

“Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is the only company that manufactures combat fighters, while Mahindra Defence is the only company that manufactures small commercial planes. It is exciting for us,” he said. To a question, Kumar said that a joint venture company would be floated over the next few months and added that further investments under the agreement would be “huge.”

But he was not available to share any figures on the investments that need to be made. On the agreement, Mahindra Defence Systems, Chairman, S P Shukla said, “This is a combination.. we have three companies that will bring their expertise, domain knowledge and flavour to the alliance.”

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Chairman and Managing Director, T Suvarna Raju said, under the agreement, the existing facilities may be used to get manufacturing done for the fighter aircraft or if required may set up a facility. The Super Hornet fighter aircraft does not only have got a low acquisition cost but also it costs very less per flight hour to operate than a tactical aircraft, a company statement said.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet will outpace future threats, bolster defence capabilities and make India stronger for decades to come, it said. The partnership would also bring the likes of Boeing, HAL and Mahindra Defence System global scale and supply chain, best-in-industry precision manufacturing processes as well as unrivalled experience in designing and optimising aerospace production, the release further added.

The ‘DefExpo’ 2018 was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Thiruvidanthai, about 40kms from here today.

The Indian Air Force recently said that it intends to buy fighter jets to upgrade its military capabilities.

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