Boeing Partners with AIESL for Component MRO to Support Indian P-8I Fleet

Boeing and AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) have partnered to provide in-country overhaul services for critical components of the Indian Navy's fleet of 12 Boeing P-8I aircraft. As part of this collaboration, the first landing gear overhaul for a P-8I was completed at INS Rajali, marking the first time such a complex Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) task has been done in India. This achievement highlights the country's growing capabilities in handling sophisticated MRO services for defense aviation.

The Boeing P-8I is a multi-role Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft, essential to the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean. By developing local MRO capabilities, the Boeing-AIESL partnership is reducing aircraft downtime and repair turnaround times, significantly improving the mission readiness of the Indian Navy’s fleet. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to enhance India’s defense self-reliance in high-tech aviation maintenance.

This partnership is also part of the larger Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub program. The BIRDS hub aims to establish a robust MRO ecosystem in India by fostering a local network of suppliers, increasing platform availability, and ensuring faster turnaround times for both defense and commercial aircraft. The hub will serve as a benchmark for maintenance and repair standards in India, focusing on reducing aircraft downtime and enhancing customer satisfaction.

A key focus of the BIRDS hub is the development of skilled manpower and the growth of local industry. Through training programs and collaboration with sub-tier suppliers, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Boeing is working to develop top-tier MRO capabilities in India. This initiative is part of India’s aspiration to become a regional hub for defense and commercial MRO services, positioning the country as a leader in aerospace maintenance across the region.