Tata Boeing Aerospace delivers 100th fuselage for Apache

HYDERABAD Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd (TBAL) has delivered its 100th fuselage for the AH-64 Apache combat helicopter to Boeing from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hyderabad on Friday. The fuselage will be transported to Boeing's AH-64 Apache manufacturing facility in Mesa city in Arizona for integration into the final assembly line.

On the occasion, KT Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Industries and Commerce, and Information Technology of Telangana, said: "Our government is committed to providing all support necessary to make the State a preferred destination for global aviation and defence manufacturers."

Salil Gupte, President, 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."

Tata Boeing Aerospace is Boeing's first equity joint venture in India. Spread over 14,000 sq metres, the state-of-the-art 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 production of complex vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes.

Customers globally operate more than 1,200 Boeing-made Apache helicopters. The helicopter has been fielded or selected for acquisition by the armed forces of 16 countries, including India.