Posted on 06/07/2011 9:36:38 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
India's $4.1 billion aircraft order with Boeing is boost for Long Beach factory
What would be nation's largest defense deal with a U.S. contractor, for the purchase of 10 C-17 military cargo jets, will extend work at Boeing's Long Beach plant through 2014.
By W.J. Hennigan, Los Angeles Times
June 6, 2011, 10:01 p.m.
Boeing Co.'s beleaguered jet-making complex in Long Beach received a major boost with a year's worth of new work after India's government approved the purchase of 10 C-17 military cargo aircraft for $4.1 billion.
The deal should keep things humming at the sprawling plant through 2014, Boeing spokesman Jerry Drelling said.
The company received formal approval Monday from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Cabinet committee on security. The deal would be India's largest defense contract with a U.S. company.
All that remains to make it official is for the two governments to sign a letter of acceptance, which Boeing said it hopes will be completed by the end of the week.
"We're still waiting on the signatures, but the deal is 99.9% done," said Stan Klemchuk, president of the United Aerospace Workers Local 148, which represents 1,600 workers at the Boeing factory. "Folks are buzzing in Long Beach. It gives us one more year of work and couldn't come at a better time."
In January, Boeing said it was cutting 900 of the 3,700 jobs at the plant. Last year, with slowing orders from the Pentagon, the Chicago company announced that it was cutting production rates by one-third to 10 aircraft a year from 15 to draw out the assembly line's life by several months.
The slower production rates would also buy time for the company to sell more planes to foreign buyers, Boeing had said. The production line had
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
A C-17 cargo jet is produced at Boeing's Long Beach factory. India’s government has approved the purchase of 10 C-17 military planes for $4.1 billion. The deal would give workers at the Long Beach plant one year of new work. In January, Boeing said it was cutting 900 of the plant's 3,700 jobs. (Bob Chamberlin, Los Angeles Times / June 7, 2011)
Good news. I’m sure Obama is preening as he takes credit for it. Never mind, we certainly need something like this.
The Asians have noticed this, but we are slow to grasp the concept.
This will keep this line alive for this great aircraft ( it is, I know someone real well on the original flight test program ) so that Obama doesn't cancel it and destroy the tooling.
Keep it alive, help is on the way and she is from Alaska !!!
Go Boeing
Some local good news in The LBC.
I would much rather deal with the Indians than the Chicoms because they aren't our enemies.
..love to watch them fly overhead on their approach into the Long Beach Airport,,,,
I think that this plane is needed all over the world... This Area needs more good news.
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India OKs $4 billion deal to buy 10 Long Beach-built C-17s
A 10-plane deal with India for Long Beach-built C-17s got approval from defense officials Monday. (Steve Carr / Press-Telegram)
A magnificent airplane. I see them flying around here every now and again and love to watch them.
Nearly two years after announcing their intention to purchase 10 Long Beach-built Boeing C-17 cargo jets, India's top defense officials approved the $4.1-billion deal Monday.
The move comes as Boeing is in talks around the globe for foreign sales of the massive jet. Authorities plan to showcase the C-17 before dozens of potential international buyers at a global air show in mid-June.
Kuwait also recently signed a preliminary deal to buy at least one C-17, and the United Arab Emirates has purchased six — the first of which was delivered in May.
The Indian purchase, like other international C-17 sales, requires the approval of both nations' governments because of its definition as military equipment.
bttt
imho, India did this as the aircraft is the best available for the money. They are looking for only top rate equipment now, not buying for political reasons.
At least Cali will get a few bucks of tax revenue from this deal over time. A win win scenario.
It doesn't need a third.
The Indian Navy is still interested in the E-2D.
Hi Ernest, thanks for your pings. Always great to see new business coming in. I have read that some of California’s businesses are relocating to Texas and wondered how bad Cali would be hurting......
Were only dealing them because they want something we produce and we want to sell stuff for money. This does not make them our good buddies.
It’s nice something is still actually made in America.
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