india-Us defence Relationship is “Trusted One”, Boeing’s investments in india Will Continue to Grow, says heidi Grant, senior Boeing executive

neWs Maker IndIa-us deFenCe reLatIonshIP Is ‘trusted one’, boeInG’s InvestMents In IndIa WILL ContInue to GroW, says heIdI Grant, senIor boeInG exeCutIve

The alignment and support for a strong and growing relationship between the United States and India across the spectrum will further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two

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heidi Grant, president, Business Development, Defence, Space and Security, Global Services, Boeing

ashington / new Delhi: Even as India continues to walk a rather sensitive path in Indo-US relations in the wake of the ongoing Ukraine crisis, but, the comments by a former top Pentagon official that Indo-US defence relations is a “trusted one,” should indeed be taken as a positive signal. The defence relationship between the world’s largest and oldest democracies, over the years has become a “trusted one”, a former top Pentagon official and now a senior Boeing executive has said.

The remarks by Heidi Grant, president, business development, defence, space and security, global services, Boeing to an Indian news agency is indeed a massive boost to the relationship between the two countries. She said Boeing’s investments in India’s aerospace infrastructure, defence capabilities, manufacturing, engineering and services, skill development and innovation will only continue to grow in the coming years.

“In 2010, when I was Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs at the Pentagon, the India-US defence relationship was just taking off and look at where we are now. When I am asked about what I am most proud of during my years at the Pentagon, I say I’m proud of my relationship with India,” she said.

“I believe the defence relationship between the US and India has become a trusted one, starting with the C-17 which became a symbol of that relationship. Look at how India is using their C-17s for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions – that has lifted up the Indian Air Force and India’s Ministry of Defence’s reputation globally and with the Indian public on how they’re using their defence assets – Chinooks, Apaches, P-8Is,” she said.

Grant joined Boeing in November 2021 from the US Department of Defence where she spent 32 years. She served as director, Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), responsible for all DoD security cooperation programmes involving defence articles, military training and other defence-related services. There, she oversaw more than 15,000 military sales cases with more than 150 countries valued at more than US$ 600 billion.

“In my previous role at the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, I recall spending more than 60 per cent of my time on India,” she said. “We looked at co-production, how to use the significant engineering capability that India has, tapping into the defence capability and capacity that India and the United States have and getting industry involved. We spent time on the industrial supply chain and ‘Make in India’ and now it has all come back full circle with Boeing. Boeing is at the front of centre of all of that.”

“We welcome the political and industry alignment and bipartisan

support for a strong and growing relationship between the United States and India, world’s largest democracies. It’s exciting for us at Boeing to be part of this fundamental, transformational shift and we are committed to helping build India’s defence aerospace and defence sector and industrial base,” she said.

Responding to a question on India’s defence needs, Grant observed that operating different types of equipment from different

countries is difficult.

“It’s expensive and logistically challenging managing the infrastructure, part and sustainment. There needs to be a balance and the US would be a better way to go to fill in those areas or to replace some of those capabilities,” she said.

“I strongly believe in the tremendous potential of the F/A18 Super Hornet for the Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighter requirement and the P-8I in furthering maritime cooperation between India and the United States and the strengthening the naval aviation ecosystem between the two navies,” Grant said.

The investments that Boeing has made in India’s aerospace infrastructure, defence capabilities, manufacturing, engineering and services, skill development and innovation will only continue to grow in the coming years. We’re excited about the transformative potential of our partnership with India, she asserted. Boeing now has 3,500 employees in India and more than 7,000 people working with its supply chain partners.

“We are proud to support the many missions of the Indian armed forces that operate multiple Boeing aircraft, including C-17 strategic airlifters, P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and CH47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters,” Grant said.

Elaborating further, Grant said that in support of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India’, Boeing sources over US$1 billion from India and Boeing’s Indian supply chain partners are exporting products made in India for the global aerospace market. Over 275 Indian suppliers deliver components, parts and complex assemblies for Boeing’s commercial and defence aircraft, including the F/A-18, F-15, P-8, Apache, Chinook, C-17 and T-7. The JV is also manufacturing 737 Vertical Fin structures, a complex structural part, on a new production line that will utilize cutting-edge robotics and automation.

“At Boeing’s India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC), engineers work on cutting-edge R&D and undertake high-quality, advanced aerospace work and offer engineering expertise to Boeing’s defence, space, and commercial businesses spanning engineering design of structures and systems, manufacturing support, developing systems to test our aircraft, and providing digital solutions to our airline customers,” she concluded. iT’s exCiTinG FOR Us aT BOeinG TO Be PaRT OF This FUndaMenTaL, TRansFORMaTiOnaL shiFT and We aRe COMMiTTed TO heLPinG BUiLd india’s deFenCe aeROsPaCe and deFenCe seCTOR and indUsTRiaL Base”

heiDi Grant

President, Business development, defence, space and security, Global services, Boeing