Boeing, BEL expand partnership in India

US-based aerospace and defence major Boeing and defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are expanding their partnership through a follow-on contract involving the manufacture of subassemblies for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jet. This contract, for Super Hornet subassemblies, expands work that Boeing awarded BEL in 2011.

BEL delivers components for the Super Hornet and P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft; and is a partner with Boeing at the Analysis & Experimentation Centre in Bangalore that opened in 2009. "Boeing's relationship with BEL demonstrates our commitment to work with the Indian industry to foster global growth and market access," said Dennis Swanson, vice president of International Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India.

Through the new contract, BEL will produce Super Hornet subassemblies including the ground power panel, 'helmet vehicle interface stowage' and 'switch assembly' and 'cockpit console panels'. For the F/A-18, BEL also produces a stowage panel for the 'joint helmet mounted cueing system' connector cable and an avionics cooling system fan test switch panel with a 'night vision imaging system'-compatible floodlight assembly.

For the P-8I it provides the Identification Friend or Foe interrogators and Data Link II communications systems.

"BEL believes this cooperation with Boeing is a great opportunity and is ever willing to take it to greater heights," said H.N. Ramakrishna, BEL's director of marketing.

BEL is engaged in the design, development and manufacture of a wide range of command, control, communications, computing and Intelligence solutions; military communication systems; radars and sonars; as well as naval and electronic warfare systems for defence and security applications.