Fokker Technologies and Aequs sign Long Term Agreement on parts for Chinook helicopter

December 16, 2015

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Fokker Technologies, a division of GKN Aerospace, and Aequs of India, signed a Long Term Agreement (LTA) for the supply of machined components for Boeing’s Chinook helicopter. The signing took place at the Boeing India Supplier Conference in Hyderabad

Under the agreement, Aequs will supply machined detail parts which will be made in India for the Chinook heavy lift helicopter. Fokker Technologies will build the parts into final sub-assemblies in facilities in Papendrecht, The Netherlands. Aequs was selected after a careful process of qualification proving the ability and affordability through trial production.

“This agreement between Fokker Technologies and Aequs is significant because it capitalizes on India’s industrial capability, innovation and talent to contribute to the country’s long-term competitiveness as a global aerospace leader,” said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India. “Boeing is rapidly expanding its supplier footprint in the country to reinforce our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and we have doubled our sourcing from India in the last 12 months.”

Fokker Technologies started to set up its supply chain in India in early 2014. In that year, Fokker Technologies selected its first parts suppliers in India and trial production started, leading to the successful first article inspection in mid-2015 and the signing of the first “Make in India” parts production LTA with Aequs. Fokker Technologies and Boeing have worked, and still work, together to identify and award work packages.

GKN Aerospace India supports GKN Aerospace’s market-leading aerostructures and aero-engines businesses in engineering and procurement activities. The Bangalore site currently has got a highly skilled workforce of 114 engineers located in the office and additional 300+ engineers in the India supply chain. GKN Aerospace also manufactures composite and metallic bonded fuel pods for the Chinook helicopter.

 “The manufacturing capability that we have on offer within our aerospace ecosystem is well positioned to deliver the outstanding value that our partners such as Fokker Technologies and Boeing look for,” said Walt Sirmans, president of Aequs Aerospace.

Edwin Boom, Business Line Director of Fokker Aerostructures for Boeing Defence Programs, said “We expect to have found a great partner in Aequs, capable to perform against the high quality standards of Fokker and Boeing. India is a strategic country for our customers. This partnership creates further value by its affordable cost structure, and provides us with the flexibility and capacity necessary to further strengthen our position in the market.

Boeing has also signed an agreement with Tata Advanced Systems in November to create a joint venture manufacture Apache fuselages in India. Dynamatic Technologies is already building parts for the Chinook heavy lift helicopter in India.

Earlier this year Fokker Technologies and SasMos of India launched Fokker Elmo SasMos Interconnections Ltd an Indian joint venture for the manufacturing of electrical interconnection systems.

Source : Fokker Technologies