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The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has already
sent five sets of the Super Hornet’s Gun
Bay Doors (GBDs) to Boeing, and 13 more are under
manufacture as part of an initial contract.
 HAL
Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Nayak told
India Strategic that HAL, which
had plans to invest USD 6 billion to modernize
its factories in the coming years, was looking
for bigger business in the worldwide military
and civil aviation market as leading aircraft
manufacturers increase their share of the Indian
market due to the country’s requirement of
modern, fuel-efficient military and civil aircraft.
HAL has supplied parts for the British Jaguar
aircraft that the Indian Air Force acquired in
the 1970s, including the over-wing pylon for French
Matra missiles that it carries. It has supplied
aircraft doors to both Boeing and EADS Airbus
in the past, but this is the first time that parts
for a US fighter jet are being sourced from India.
HAL also makes Soviet/ Russian aircraft in India,
including the SU 30 MKI.
Dr Vivek Lall, Vice President and country head
for Boeing Defense, Space and Security (Boeing
DSS) in New Delhi, told India Strategic that the
current order to HAL was not tied to India buying
the F-18 Super Hornet, but was part of a Boeing
initiative to source USD one billion worth of
parts and services from HAL.
A second order for GBDs is in the offing, he
confirmed adding, "I believe HAL and Boeing
share a great working together partnership for
many years now that will continue to grow very
significantly in support of the national industrial
policy of the country."
The value of the contract was not available.
But Dr Lall said that Boeing was sourcing some
other equipment from HAL, including Wire Harnesses
for the Super Hornet and that their first set
had also been received at the F 18 manufacturing
facility at St Louis in the US.
Notably, Boeing has already tied with four indian
companies -HAL, BEL, ECIL and Avantel - for some
electronics as part of the offset agreement for
its eight P8-I Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft
(MMA) for the Indian Navy. It is also sourcing
flaperons for Boeing 777 commercial airliners
it has sold to Air India under another offset
obligation.
The F/A 18 E/F is among the six contestents for
the India Air Force's Medium Multi Role Combat
Aircraft (M-MRCA) requirement.
Discussions with HAL were continuing on gradually
increasing the orders.
The Gun Bay Door covers the Super Hornet’s
six-barrel 20mm, Externally Powered M61A2 Gatling
Gun System, which can fire 4000-6000 shots/ minute.
Made by the US military systems giant General
Dynamics, the gun carries only about 600 rounds
though.
The gun can be used in a dogfight if it erupts,
although the aircraft is loaded with long-range
precision strike weapons and missiles as the emphasis
now is on Beyond the Visual Range (BVR) engagement.
So far, Boeing has been sourcing GBDs from Czechoslovakia’s
AERO Vodochody, which has supplied more than 300
GBDs already.
Mr Nayak pointed out that last year, HAL had
also supplied the rear fuselage for Gulfstream
150 business jet as part of its globalization
strategy and increase its annual turnover three
times from around USD one billion at present.
Gulfstream is also owned by General Dynamics,
which had developed the F 16 fighter but later
sold it to Lockheed Martin.
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