Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd delivers its 100th fuselage for AH-64 Apache combat helicopter

Hyderabad: Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) delivered the 100th fuselage for the AH-64 Apache combat helicopter to Boeing from its manufacturing facility in Hyderabad. The fuselage will be shipped to Boeing's AH – 64 Apache manufacturing facility at Mesa in Arizona, USA, for final integration in the assembly line.

Telangana minister for industries and commerce K.T Rama Rao and senior officials from Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) were present to mark the delivery milestone. KTR said, "This is a proud moment for Telangana, and a noteworthy step in the growth of India's aerospace and defence manufacturing. Our government is committed to providing all support necessary to make the state a preferred destination for global aviation and defence manufacturers."

Sukaran Singh, the managing director and chief executive of TASL, said the milestone places the Telangana facility as a vital cog in the global supply chain for the famous battlefield Apache helicopters. "The achievement of 100th fuselage delivery for AH-64 within three years of the facility being operational reflects our strong ability to industrialize and ramp up complex aerospace programs and deliver with highest levels of quality," he added.

Tata Boeing Aerospace, Boeing's first equity joint venture in India, is the result of a 2015 partnership agreement with TASL. Spread over 14,000 square meters, the facility has been producing aero-structures for Boeing's AH-64 Apache helicopter, including fuselages, secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for customers worldwide. Recently, Boeing announced the addition of a new production line to manufacture complex vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes.

Salil Gupte, the president of Boeing India, said, "We have quadrupled our sourcing from India in the past two years to more than $1 billion. Skilled talent, robust infrastructure, ease of doing business, and a highly responsive government administration make Telangana an ideal destination for the high-end manufacturing work that the aerospace and defence industry demands."