Boeing technology heading to Russia

[vector7]

Friday, September 17, 2010
Russia inks deal for 50 Boeing 737s

Portland Business Journal - Puget Sound Business Journal

Boeing has signed a $37 billion contract to supply 50 next-generation 737 planes to state-owned Russian Technologies, several media outlets reported Friday.

The deal means that Russian Tech will likely lease the Boeing (NYSE: BA) planes to carrier Aeroflot, which is seeking to become more competitive by upgrading its aging fleet, according to USA Today.

Russian Tech also has an option to buy 35 more of the planes. The deal comes a day after Boeing said it will ramp up production at its Renton, Wash., factory for the Next-Generation 737 program to 38 airplanes per month in the second quarter of 2013.

Chicago-based Boeing has a backlog of more than 2,000 orders for Next-Generation 737s. “Increasing production is in response to customer demand for this airplane,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes division President and CEO Jim Albaugh in a statement. “Airlines want this innovative airplane sooner to renew their fleets to serve their customers. We made this decision after careful evaluation by Boeing and our supplier partners.”

Boeing employs more than 1,500 in Gresham, where workers make critical machined metal components used in the company’s commercial aircraft, including the new 787 Dreamliner. Work includes making gear boxes, engine mounts, carriages and flight control system.

[vector7]

India, U.S. finalizing $5.8 billion Boeing aircraft deal

Related News

• India may sign $3.5 bln Boeing aircraft deal-paperTue, Sep 21 2010
• UPDATE 3-US, eyeing Iran, moves on $60 bln Saudi arms dealMon, Sep 13 2010

By Bappa Majumdar

NEW DELHI | Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:36am EDT

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is aiming to finalize a $5.8 billion defense agreement with the United States before the November visit of President Barack Obama in a deal that would mark the biggest India-U.S. defense deal ever.

The two countries are in talks for India to acquire 10 Boeing Co's (BA.N) C-17 Globemaster III planes, senior government officials said on Wednesday, adding the parties hope to make the announcement during Obama's visit.

"The $5.8 billion deal along with all potential support services and spares is the biggest-ever defense deal between the two countries till now," a senior government official told Reuters.

Another official said the actual announcement could be made during President Obama's visit.

India and the U.S. are building a strategic alliance and security experts say New Delhi's growing ties with Washington are seen as a counterweight against China's growing military clout.

India and the United States signed a landmark civilian nuclear deal in 2008 and another pact in July last year, facilitating the entry of U.S. companies like Lockheed and Boeing into India's lucrative defense market.

New Delhi expressed its interest in January to buy the heavy-lift C-17 Globemaster aircraft, capable of carrying large combat equipment and troops.

"India will receive the most advanced version of the C-17 available, which will include the latest upgrades and capability," said Vivek Lall, Boeing's Vice President (Defense Space and Security) India, confirming the deal.

Boeing has sold 221 C-17 Globemaster planes to several countries so far, including Qatar, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, the company said.

India is looking to spend more than $50 billion over the next five years to modernize its armed forces and largely Soviet-era equipment, an effort that is in particular focus after the 2008 Mumbai attacks revealed security loopholes and the need to upgrade defenses.

It is also expected to finalize a deal to buy 126 fighter jets.

Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet is also competing with Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N) F-16 , France's Dassault Rafale, Russia's MiG-35, Sweden's Saab (SAABb.ST) JAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon, produced by a consortium of European companies.

(Additional reporting by Devidutta Tripathy)

[vector7]

India, Russia launch multirole transport aircraft project

By Siva Govindasamy

India and Russia have begun work on their multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) programme after several rounds of negotiations between officials from both countries.

Hindustan Aeronautics, India's state-owned airframer, has signed an agreement with Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport and United Aircraft to form a Bangalore-based joint venture for the programme, paving the way for the companies to begin preliminary design work.

"The MTA is a 15-20t payload capacity aircraft which would meet the requirement of the Indian air force and the Russian air force," says HAL. "The project has been approved by both the government of India and the government of the Russian Federation."

Around $600 million will be spent on the aircraft's development, with India and Russia to share the investment equally and HAL and UAC to have a 50:50 stake in the workshare.

The companies plan to manufacture 205 of the aircraft, which will have a cruise speed of 430kt (800km/h), a range of up to 1,460nm (2,700km) and a service ceiling of 39,400ft (12,000m).

The twin-engine MTA will have "state of the art features such as fly-by-wire, full authority digital engine control, modern avionics and glass cockpit", says HAL.

Agreement to proceed with the military transport is expected to be the first of two major agreements this year between Russia and India, which have had a decades-long defence relationship.

Industry sources say they could also sign an agreement on their multi-billion dollar fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme. This aims to develop a twin-seat aircraft based on Sukhoi's single-seat PAK FA prototype, which had its first flight in January.

Russia's willingness to transfer technology to India was for a long a bugbear in the negotiations for both the MTA and fifth-generation fighter programme. However, officials say there has been a lot of progress by Moscow over the last few months to alleviate New Delhi's concerns.

While India has long been a good customer for Russia, it has been diversifying its equipment sources in recent years and has turned to the West for many of its recent military acquisitions.

Over the past two years, New Delhi has confirmed orders for the Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport and the Boeing P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. It is also close to finalising a deal for Boeing C-17 strategic transports.

The Indian air force is also considering Russian, European and US fighters for its multi-role combat aircraft programme.

Trials have concluded for the $10-12 billion competition, and New Delhi is expected to issue a shortlist in the near future. The contenders for the 126-aircraft requirement are the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16, RSK MiG-35 and Saab Gripen NG.