Boeing India and South Asia President Salil Gupte said that India is a unique and important market. “We have been in India for 80 years, but real growth started in the last decade,” he told NDTV Profit during Aero India 2025.
Boeing has played a big role in India’s civil and defence aviation. The company has introduced major defence aircraft like the C-17 cargo plane, the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and Apache helicopters. “Even the planes that carry the Prime Minister and President of India are from Boeing,” he said.
Boeing Grows Manufacturing in India
Gupte dismissed the idea that India lacks high-tech aviation manufacturing. “That may have been true ten years ago, but today India has great opportunities,” he said, reported by NDTV Profit.
Boeing is expanding its operations across the country. It has a 43-acre site in Bengaluru with 5,000 aeronautical engineers. “They focus mostly on domestic projects but also support some global work,” he said.
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Boeing also has a strong supply chain in India, working with suppliers in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gujarat, and northern India. “Our Indian suppliers export aerospace components worth ₹10,000 crore every year. That makes Boeing the largest foreign aerospace company in India,” Gupte said.
Boeing is committed to India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programs. “Any major defence deal includes final assembly in India. We haven’t won a fighter jet contract yet, but we hope to in the future,” he said.
Local manufacturing is crucial for defence projects. “For any defence contract, 50% of the parts must be made in India. That’s why we invest in local production,” he explained. He also mentioned that GE is setting up an engine manufacturing unit with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). “GE plays an important role in many of our civil and defence platforms,” he said.
Boeing’s Defence and Civil Aircraft Deals
Boeing works closely with the Indian defence forces. “The Indian Army will receive six more Apache helicopters. The Air Force already has 22,” Gupte said. He also confirmed ongoing talks about new reconnaissance aircraft. “The Navy needs more P-8 aircraft, but the final decision will be theirs,” he said.
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Boeing’s defence aircraft also strengthen India-US military cooperation. “The more US-made aircraft India buys, the better the coordination between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region,” he explained.
In the civil aviation sector, Boeing has received nearly 600 aircraft orders from Indian airlines, including Air India, Akasa, and SpiceJet. “These orders include both narrow-body and wide-body planes. We have a strong delivery schedule for the next few years,” he said.
Boeing’s expansion in India is not just about numbers. “Every employee and supplier in India supports our global operations,” Gupte said. “When India orders Boeing planes, it helps create jobs in both India and the US. It benefits everyone.”
