Boeing

NEW DELHI, Aug. 04, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today submitted a comprehensive Industrial Participation (IP) proposal to the government of India in support of the company's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) offer to the Indian air force of 126 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The proposal was submitted in response to the MMRCA Request for Proposals, which asked all competitors to provide an IP plan as part of their offering.

Boeing's proposal firmly supports the Indian government's goal of a vibrant indigenous aerospace industry. It also foresees India playing a key role in enhancing Boeing's global competitiveness and growth through a series of strategic partnerships with Indian industries.

"The Boeing Company has been, and will continue to be, a true partner to India," said Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft. "To that end, our IP proposal draws upon the company's vast pool of human talent, technical expertise and aerospace and defense resources, to both support India's defense modernization drive and to help spur growth of a world-class Indian aerospace industry."

To help meet the MMRCA IP requirements, Boeing assembled a formidable industrial lineup that includes the Super Hornet industry supplier team (16 leading aerospace and defense companies with combined revenues of over $454 billion), and Boeing's Indian IP partners (37 public- and private-sector Indian companies).

"We are already establishing the groundwork that will lead us to success in this large undertaking through early engagement of Indian industry, both public and private," said Vivek Lall, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems vice president and India country head.

The alliances began forming in earnest in November 2006, when Boeing hosted a conference in Bangalore at which 25 of its key suppliers were introduced to more than 25 India-based aerospace and engineering services companies.

"Boeing is proud of its record of successfully implementing IP programs in excess of $29 billion in more than 30 countries," said Ian Thomas, president of Boeing India. "These have brought long-term economic and industrial benefits to our customers around the world, and created jobs and growth opportunities for Boeing. And many of the companies that helped Boeing meet those IP obligations have evolved to become enduring partners in the global Boeing supply chain."

Earlier this year, Boeing reached an agreement to form a joint venture with Tata Industries Limited, part of the Tata Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates. In December 2007, Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which is adopting Boeing's Lean and best-management practices. Boeing has also signed an MOU with international engineering firm Larsen & Toubro for joint exploration of business opportunities in the Indian defense market.