Alain Garcia, Vice President, India Business Development, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and Global Services has been leading Boeing’s business development and global services initiatives. Ahead of Aero India 2025, in an interview to Ajit K Thakur, Editor – Raksha Anirveda, Alain Garcia delving into the details of Boeing’s India strategy, eloquently explained its alignment with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, expanding sourcing by volume and network expansion, local partnership and focused investment in cutting-edge technologies to boost Indian defence industry’s preparedness while underscoring the “Make in India for the World” philosophy and reinforcing its long-standing partnership with India’s aerospace ecosystem. Edited excerpts:
RA: How is Boeing working with Indian suppliers and manufacturers to boost the efficiency and readiness of defence platforms while advancing the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat?
AG: Boeing’s strategy in India aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and is built on two key pillars: enhancing and leveraging local supply chain capabilities and partnering with Indian companies to strengthen the aerospace and defence ecosystem.
Enhancing local supply chain capabilities:
Boeing is leveraging India’s manufacturing, engineering expertise, and talent, to build a competitive aerospace ecosystem supporting the growth of India’s aerospace and defence sector. Over the last decade, Boeing’s annual sourcing from India has grown significantly, from $250 million to $1.25 billion. 70% of this sourcing is manufacturing, making Boeing the leading foreign OEM exporting from India. Boeing works with over 300 suppliers, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), focused on advanced manufacturing capabilities such as composites and robotics.
Over the last decade, Boeing’s annual sourcing from India has grown significantly, from $250 million to $1.25 billion. 70% of this sourcing is manufacturing, making Boeing the leading foreign OEM exporting from India
Local partnerships:
With over 80 years of presence in India, Boeing is dedicated to enhancing local capabilities and boosting operational readiness through partnerships with Indian companies. This commitment is supported by Boeing Defence India (BDI), established in 2017, which focuses on providing localised support and fostering collaboration with Indian companies. Through the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) program, launched in 2021, BDI aims to enhance platform support, develop Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and train a skilled workforce, elevating local capabilities to international standards. These initiatives align with our commitment to India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, reinforcing our role as a key partner in the country’s aerospace and defence ecosystem.
The P-8I platform is a testament of this two-pronged strategy. More than 15 Indian supplier partners, including MSMEs, contribute to the P-8I program, showcasing the growing strength of India’s manufacturing sector. Through BDI, we lead the support and sustainment of India’s P-8I fleet, providing training, spare parts, ground support equipment, and field-service representative support. Our partnerships with local companies like Air Works, AIESL, and Horizon Aerospace have established a robust maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) ecosystem that ensures faster turnaround times, improved fleet availability, and higher mission readiness. AIESL, for instance, completed the first in-country P-8I landing gear overhaul in 2024, while Air Works successfully completed Phase 32 checks on eight P-8I aircraft, meeting global standards. Horizon Aerospace also supports platforms such as the P-8I and VIP 737 fleet. Additionally, in 2023, we launched the Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex at INS Rajali, a state-of-the-art facility that reduces the need for actual aircraft in training and enhances overall operational efficiency.
RA: What role does your supplier network play in supporting the defence sector?
AG: Boeing has significantly scaled its supplier network in India, growing from $250 million in sourcing nearly a decade ago to $1.25 billion annually. Our network of over 300 suppliers includes MSMEs that have scaled up over time to successfully deliver more and more complex assemblies and components. By fostering local expertise and investing in cutting-edge technologies like full-size determinant assembly and robotics, we are leveraging Indian suppliers to support global aerospace and defence requirements. This growth underscores the “Make in India for the World” philosophy and reinforces our long-standing partnership with India’s aerospace ecosystem.
The P-8I has provided the Indian Navy with a decisive edge in the strategically vital Indian Ocean region. With a range of over 1,200 nautical miles, the P-8I enables the Navy to conduct extensive maritime surveillance, covering areas from the East coast of Africa to the busy trade routes of the Malacca Strait
RA: How has the P-8I performed for the Indian Navy, and what gives it the edge?
AG: The Indian variant of the P-8, known as the P-8I, is designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. With a fleet of 12 P-8Is, the Indian Navy is significantly enhancing its ability to secure and protect its vast coastline while playing a larger role in regional maritime security. This patrol aircraft, a critical asset in the Navy’s fleet, has logged over 40,000 flight hours since its induction. The P-8I’s ISR capabilities have also proven invaluable during disaster relief and humanitarian missions. Overall, the P-8I has provided the Indian Navy with a decisive edge in the strategically vital Indian Ocean region. With a range of over 1,200 nautical miles, the P-8I enables the Navy to conduct extensive maritime surveillance, covering areas from the East coast of Africa to the busy trade routes of the Malacca Strait.
RA: Don’t you think the Indian Navy needs more P-8Is?
AG: Boeing will continue to work with the Indian Navy to support any of their present and future requirements.
RA: How has the P-8I platform driven indigenisation or Aatmanirbhar Bharat?
AG: Boeing’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat is unwavering. We have achieved substantial indigenisation in the manufacturing and sustainment of the P-8I, with an economic impact of $1.7 billion already generated to support the current fleet. Furthermore, Boeing envisions that increasing the P-8I fleet to 18 aircraft will increase investments, by approximately $1.5 billion, while creating further indigenisation opportunities within India’s aerospace and defence sector by 2032. This aligns with the nation’s self-reliance and economic growth goals.
