Tata-Boeing Inaugurate Apache Helicopter Fuselages Facility

Tata Boeing Aerospace (TBAL), a joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) today inaugurated its facility to produce fuselages for the AH-64 Apache helicopter.

Spread over 14,000-square metres and employing 350 highly skilled workers, the facility will be the sole global producer of fuselages for AH-64 Apache helicopter delivered by Boeing to its global customers including the US Army, a joint press release from Tata and Boeing said. 

The facility will also produce secondary structures and vertical spar boxes of this multi-role combat helicopter. The delivery of the first fuselage is expected in 2018, it added. 

TBAL, Boeing's first equity JV in India, is the result of a 2015 partnership agreement with TASL. Construction of the manufacturing facility began in 2016 and was completed on schedule. 

Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India was quoted as saying PTI that TBAL is just the beginning of Boeing's future journey of partnership with India. 

"We see this as a major step towards future opportunities to pursue the co-development of integrated systems in aerospace and defence," he said. 

The Indian ministry of defence finalised an order with Boeing for 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters in September 2015, deliveries for which are scheduled to begin in 2019.