Heidi Grant: “F-35 fighters have been under discussion since 2010′
HEIDI SCHOLARSHIP was at the Pentagon for 32 years and retired as Air Force Secretary for International Affairs. She held this position for more than eight years. Now she’s with Boeing as president, business development, defence, space and security and government services. In conversation with Ajai Shuklashe says no one is better placed to do business in India than Boeing. “Unlike some of our competitors, Boeing can leverage both its commercial side and its defense side,” she observes. Edited excerpts:
Question: What is the purpose of your visit to India?
It’s about continuing to grow America’s trade partnership with India. It is one of Boeing’s main partners.
Question: Have you set any goals by coming here?
Now that I have been at Boeing for a year, my biggest goal was to restore the relationship I had in Delhi since 2010. I attended a meeting with the Minister of Defense here. I was introduced to the General Manager of Acquisitions and he said, “I know Heidi. She is known here as Tigress. I said I would take that as a compliment.
To strengthen our partnership with India, I think it is important that India has the capacity to protect itself in a sovereign manner. My passion is how to make sure India has what it needs for its defence.
Question: How was your meeting with Rajnath Singh?
His message was very clear: India is focused on developing self-reliance. I was able to explain to him that Boeing already has more than 300 Indian suppliers.
Question: Boeing talks about its billions of dollars in aerospace and defense exports, and the 5,000 Boeing employees in India.
Boeing exports 40% of India’s aerospace and defense exports, which is quite significant. Is there room for growth? Absolutely. Boeing is best positioned to grow in this area.
Question: Compared to others, Boeing is always ahead.
The other thing I said to Rajnath Singh at Thursday’s meeting was that good things take time. You are not going to activate this huge amount right away. We have to make sure we do it right.
Question: Let me come to the multi-role fighter aircraft tender for 114 fighters. Would Boeing field, as it did in the last competition, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, or would it go with a different aircraft this time, the F-15EX or another aircraft from this range?
It depends on how India defines its fighter jet needs. We would have to see what the requirements are. We are waiting to know what the government decides.
Question: So Boeing won’t say they put in both the Super Hornet and the F-15EX and it’s up to India to choose.
We would wait to see the requirements and assess which of the aircraft is fit to meet those requirements.
Question: The F-35 made a sensational landing here on Wednesday. Do you think Lockheed Martin could just give India the F-35? We have our US government clearances. Do you see that as a former senior Pentagon official?
Now that I’m at Boeing, I won’t go into that.
Question: This is a very real possibility.
It was in 2010 too. I mean the F-35s have been under discussion since 2010.
Question: American officials were saying that if India asks for the highest level of leadership, there is a very good chance that the United States will say yes to the F-35. As someone who was in the Pentagon, do you think that’s a possibility?
Now that I’m with Boeing, I’m not going to talk about it. And I think you should talk to Lockheed about it.
Question: No, it is a very real possibility.
It was in 2010 too. I mean, the F-35s have been under discussion since 2010.
