Hyderabad production milestone highlights India’s expanding role in the global aerostructures and defence manufacturing network
Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) has rolled out its 400th fuselage for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter from its Hyderabad manufacturing facility, marking another milestone in India’s integration into global aerospace and defence supply chains.
The milestone was announced on 7 September 2026 by TBAL, the joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). The 400th fuselage was produced at the company’s 52,000-square-metre facility in Hyderabad, with the structures manufactured in India before being integrated into complete Apache helicopters supplied to customers worldwide.
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The Hyderabad operation supplies fuselages for the global Apache programme, including aircraft delivered to the U.S. Army and the six Apaches supplied to the Indian Army in 2025. Separately, the Indian Air Force operates 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters.
India’s Growing Aerospace Manufacturing Role
Established in 2016, TBAL employs more than 750 engineers and technicians at its Hyderabad operation. The workforce uses advanced robotics, automation and aerospace manufacturing technologies to produce Apache fuselage aerostructures.
The company said the production milestone demonstrates the increasing maturity of India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and its integration into international defence supply chains.
For the wider aerospace supply chain, the programme represents a shift beyond traditional component manufacturing, with Indian production becoming an established part of the global industrial network supporting a major military rotorcraft platform.
Global Apache Supply Chain
The AH-64E Apache is operated by armed forces in multiple countries, with approximately 1,300 Apache aircraft currently in service across 19 countries, according to Boeing and TBAL.
The Hyderabad facility’s output therefore extends well beyond the Indian market, supplying structures that become part of aircraft delivered to international customers. This makes the 400th fuselage milestone significant not only for TBAL but also for India’s position within Boeing’s global aerospace manufacturing network.
Tata Advanced Systems describes TBAL as Boeing’s global single-source fuselage operation for AH-64 Apache helicopters delivered to customers worldwide. The facility also produces secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for the platform.
From Local Manufacturing to Global Supply
The latest milestone follows TBAL’s earlier production achievements and underscores the scale-up of India-based aerospace manufacturing.
For cargo and logistics providers, the programme illustrates the increasingly international nature of aerospace supply chains, in which major aircraft and defence programmes rely on specialised manufacturing centres distributed across multiple countries. Components produced in Hyderabad ultimately feed into aircraft production and delivery programmes serving customers around the world.
The 400th Apache fuselage therefore represents more than a production figure. It highlights the growing importance of India as an integrated aerospace manufacturing and supply-chain hub, with advanced engineering, automation and specialised aerostructure production supporting global aviation and defence programmes.
