In a significant move to bolster India's maritime surveillance capabilities, Boeing has entered into a partnership with AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) to provide overhaul services for the Indian Navy’s fleet of 12 P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft. The collaboration marks a milestone as the first landing gear overhaul of a P-8I aircraft was recently completed at the naval base INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu.
Boeing India announced that this initiative represents a notable advancement in India's indigenous Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities. “This is a first in India and reflects the growth in India’s indigenous capabilities for undertaking complex MRO services”, Boeing India stated.
The Boeing P-8I, a multi-role, long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft, plays a crucial role in the Indian Navy's maritime surveillance missions across the Indian Ocean. The aircraft is also in service with several other nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, and Germany.
Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership with AIESL. “Through this partnership with AIESL, we continue to make strategic investments in India’s MRO capabilities that enhance mission readiness rates for the Indian Navy”, Gupte said. He highlighted that developing local MRO capabilities is vital for reducing repair turnaround times and aircraft downtime, thereby improving fleet mission readiness.
Sharad Agarwal, CEO of AI Engineering Services Limited, expressed pride in the collaboration, noting, “We are proud to partner with Boeing and successfully complete the landing gear overhaul of the P-8I aircraft, a first in India. It is a significant step towards India’s aspirations to become the regional hub for MRO services”.
This partnership is part of the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub program. The BIRDS hub aims to establish a robust MRO ecosystem in India for both defense and commercial aircraft. It includes building industry benchmarks for maintenance and repair, platform availability, customer satisfaction, and rapid turnaround times. A key element of the BIRDS hub is its training programs designed to enhance skilled manpower and develop top-tier MRO capabilities by supporting sub-tier suppliers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India.