Rolls-Royce strengthens commitment to driving Defence business in India

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has strengthened its commitment to India with the appointment of John Gay as Director for Customer Business South Asia, based in New Delhi.

In his new role John will lead the Defence team in India where Rolls-Royce engines have been powering the Indian Armed Forces for 78 years. Prior to taking up his new position in India, John has worked on a number of Rolls-Royce defence programmes with the Indian Air Force (IAF), including the introduction of the new Adour Mk871 engine in the new Hawk Advanced jet trainer and the support of the large range of engines in service with
the IAF.

Speaking at Aero India where the Group has a significant presence Anil Shrikhande, President, Rolls-Royce India, said, “John’s appointment is a further illustration of the strategic importance of India as a global partner to Rolls-Royce. It will enable us to maximise the significant defence opportunities that exist for us in India and to build on our role as a trusted partner here.”

“2010 was a year of significant achievement for Rolls-Royce in India, with the follow-on order for Adour-powered Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and the launch of our new joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This year we will be accelerating our business development and partnership initiatives as we strive to become embedded in India’s industrial landscape and contribute to India’s defence modernisation priorities.”

John Gay, Rolls-Royce Director for Customer Business South Asia, said: “I’m very excited about this new challenge and look forward to working closely with our customers in India to ensure that Rolls-Royce is providing the engines and the mission critical support that they require for frontline operations.”

At Aero India 2011 Rolls-Royce will present a powerful array of engine technologies and examples of its expanding partnerships in India. The Rolls-Royce stand (Hall B/31) will feature the Eurojet EJ200 engine, and the CTS800 and M250 helicopter engines. The show will also see the public debut of latest Rolls-Royce engine to enter service with the Indian Armed Forces in the shape of the AE 2100-powered Lockheed Martin C-130J
transport aircraft in the colours of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Rolls-Royce will also have a presence on the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) stand in Hall 5 which will feature the new manufacturing joint venture company, International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt Ltd. (IAMPL), established in 2010.

Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce today has a broad customer base comprising more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
Rolls-Royce employs 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in 50 countries. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment, and to further developing employee skills.
Rolls-Royce is the world's number two defence aero engine company with 160 customers in 103 countries.
Rolls-Royce has over 1,300 engines in service in India, mainly as a result of long-term defence programmes. It has partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on a series of engine programmes since 1956 and last year the two companies launched a new joint venture to manufacture compressor shrouds.
Rolls-Royce has a long and proud history of partnership with India. In 1932 the company supplied Gipsy engines to power Dragon Rapide DH-89 aircraft operated by Tata Airlines - the forerunner to Air India. In the defence sector, Rolls-Royce celebrated the 75th anniversary of its partnership with the Indian Air Force in 2008, a milestone that coincided with the induction of the latest Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers - powered by Rolls-Royce engines. The latest chapter in this partnership is the addition of the AE 2100 powered C-130J aircraft to the IAF fleet.

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