EADS builds export base for aerospace and defence equipment in India

New Delhi: European aerospace and defence major, EADS, has said that as India becomes a manufacturing major the company was keen on developing relations with large Indian suppliers with a view to creating an export base for defence and civil aviation equipment.

"The ambition of EADS is to identify a strong Indian supplier base that will contribute to enhance its (India) global competitiveness," vice president (global sourcing) Philippe Advani informed the media.

Though "a number of hurdles" were yet to be overcome in order to fully realise India's civil and defence aviation potential, Advani said EADS had already created a chain of suppliers who would contribute to the IAF's multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) programme.

"In support of our group business units, we have assisted in February 2008 Eurofighter (a product of EADS) to build an extensive network of Indian suppliers to contribute to the MRCA related offset requirements," he said.

The European consortium had set up its India-sourcing office last year.

A similar approach was being adopted for Eurocopter with a major Indian suppliers' conference being held.

The global attitude towards India, including its aerospace and defence sectors, had changed radically over the past five years, he said. He pointed out that aerospace and defence original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) were shifting from vertically integrated manufacturing, from detail parts to the final assembly line, towards design and systems integration.