Boeing has joined forces with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) to enhance India’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. This collaboration recently achieved a significant milestone with the completion of the first-ever in-country landing gear overhaul for a Boeing P-8I aircraft, marking a crucial step in strengthening India’s indigenous MRO capabilities.
The P-8I, a multi-role Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft, is vital to the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance operations. Boeing’s partnership with AIESL is set to reduce repair turnaround times, minimize aircraft downtime, and improve the mission readiness of the Navy’s fleet of 12 P-8I aircraft.
Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia, emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting that developing local MRO capabilities is key to enhancing mission readiness for the Indian Navy. Sharad Agarwal, CEO of AIESL, expressed pride in this achievement, highlighting its significance in India’s journey to becoming a regional MRO hub.
This partnership is part of Boeing’s India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub program, which aims to establish industry-leading MRO standards in India. The BIRDS hub focuses on building a robust MRO ecosystem by developing skilled manpower, supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and ensuring rapid turnaround times for both defence and commercial aircraft.