Airbus pledges additional support to PM Modi's Make In India programme

MUMBAI: Plane manufacturer Airbus Saturday announced plans of increased support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India programme by making military aircraft and electronic sensors in India as well as helping the country to its satellites into orbit.

"The Group is willing to set-up final assembly lines and establish supply chains and related infrastructure for military transport aircraft and helicopters in the country," it said in a statement.

Airbus said one of its units has submitted a joint proposal with the Tata group to produce the C295--a twin turboprop, tactical military transport aircraft--in India as a replacement for the ageing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

The unit "also plans to develop and manufacture electronic sensors with a partner in India," and has advanced discussions to support state-run aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics’ combat aircraft programmes.

Airbus Helicopters is in discussion with Indian companies to finalise teaming arrangements for various helicopter programmes, including naval utility helicopters, reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters as well as naval multi-role helicopter competitions, it said.

"Additionally, both sides use each other’s launchers to put satellites into orbit."

In June last year, Airbus Defence and Space launched its SPOT 7 satellite aboard Indian Space Research Organisation’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in June 2014.

Earlier Saturday, Modi visited Airbus' facilities in Toulouse, France and met senior executives including group CEO Tom Enders.

“India already takes a centre-stage role in our international activities and we want to even increase its contribution to our products. We support Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ call and are ready to manufacture in India, for India and the world.” said Enders.

The European plane maker has 196 of its commercial passenger aircraft flying in India.

Airbus operates two engineering centres – one focused on civil aviation and the other on defence – and a research & technology centre in India. It plans to expand these centres, senior executives told Modi.

Airbus also said it plans to award additional manufacturing and engineering work packages to local companies which will lead to an increase in their sourcing from India. Its total sourcing from the country totalled $400 million in 2014.