Aviation

Boeing pitches Super Hornets for Indian Navy

In line with the “Make in India” mission and to transmit advanced technologies to the Indian industry if their jet is selected.

Indian Navy receives F/A-18 Super Hornets from Boeing

Boeing, an aircraft manufacturer, stated on Wednesday a road map to dramatically increase its investments in line with the “Make in India” mission and to transmit advanced technologies to the Indian industry if their jet is selected. The Indian Navy will operate from its aircraft carriers. For the purchase of about 26 jets in the upcoming months, the Navy is anticipated to pick between the French Rafale and the F-18.

Boeing estimates that the F/A-18 Super Hornet, which will be India’s next carrier-based fighter, will have an economic impact of $3.6 billion on the country’s aerospace and defense sector over the next ten years. Alain Garcia, vice-president of India business development for Boeing Defence, Space, Security, and Global Services, stated that the economic impact would go above and beyond Boeing’s present offset commitments and ambitions in the nation.

Each fighter has advantages while some have drawbacks. For instance, the Rafale-M has a twin-seater trainer, but adding one would bring the 36 Rafale fighters of the Indian Air Force into commonality. On the other hand, the F/A-18 is a dedicated carrier-based fighter that has so far been delivered in over 800 units.

The Navy lacks aircraft to operate from both of its carriers, and with the first indigenous carrier Vikrant possibly being commissioned next week, the procurement has become more urgent. The only carrier using the Mi9-29K at the moment is INS Vikramaditya.

Although 45 aircraft were initially ordered from Russia, Navy authorities had already said that after Vikrant is put into service, their availability will not be sufficient to meet the needs of both carriers.

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Aviation

Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Manufacturing After Seven-Week Strike

In a crucial move for its recovery, Boeing has restarted production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner, about a month after a significant seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers came to an end.

This marks a key milestone for the planemaker, which has been facing considerable challenges in recent years, including heavy debt and a series of setbacks.

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According to the report from Reuters, Boeing resumed the production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, a pivotal step as the company aims to meet the growing global demand for air travel. With over 4,200 orders from airlines, Boeing’s ability to get the 737 MAX production line back in motion is vital for its financial recovery.

Although Boeing had previously planned to restart production earlier, the company faced numerous obstacles that delayed this process. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker told Reuters on Thursday that while Boeing had not yet resumed production, they had plans to restart by the end of the month.

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The road to this point has been rocky for Boeing. Setbacks such as the tragic fatal crashes of the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, production safety concerns, and increased regulatory scrutiny have all contributed to delays in the company’s efforts to ramp up production.

The seven-week strike, which involved thousands of Boeing’s factory workers, added yet another hurdle. Despite these challenges, production of the 737 MAX officially resumed on Friday, according to one of the anonymous sources.

Boeing, however, declined to comment on the matter. The planemaker is now focused on reaching its goal of producing 56 737 MAX airplanes per month, a target that has been delayed due to the many issues that have beset the company over the past few years.