TBAL Rolls Out 400th Apache Fuselage, Marking Indian Aerospace Milestone

Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) has reached a significant milestone by rolling out its 400th fuselage for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter from its Hyderabad facility. The company, a joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), uses advanced robotics and automation to produce the fuselages.

The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters, and TBAL's manufacturing capability highlights India's growing role in supporting the rotorcraft platform. The company employs over 750 engineers and technicians who use aerospace manufacturing technologies to produce fuselage aerostructures for the Apache helicopter.

With the selection of Tata Advanced Systems Limited as the prime partner for future in-country co-production, TBAL plans to explore setting up a dedicated final assembly and integration facility in India. This initiative links American supply chains with Indian assembly lines, creating local high-tech jobs while sustaining manufacturing positions in the United States.

The production of sub-assembly kits will occur at Lockheed Martin's Troy facility in Alabama, while guidance electronics units will originate from Raytheon's Tucson facility in Arizona. These components will then be shipped to India for final assembly and integration.