Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. of India are to collaborate on aerospace and defense manufacturing and opportunities in integrated systems development.

The partnering, which includes marketing of their products, comes under a framework agreement signed Wednesday by Shelley Lavender, president of Boeing Military Aircraft, and Sukaran Singh, managing director and chief executive officer of TASL.

"This agreement with TASL is significant because it demonstrates Boeing's commitment to expanding its aerospace manufacturing footprint in India," Lavender said.

"As we step into our 100th year in business, a new aerospace partnership with India is the perfect milestone to accelerate the momentum we have generated" for making equipment in India," said Pratyush Kumar, president of Boeing India. "It is noteworthy that TASL will produce Chinook helicopter parts in India even before the procurement contract is signed with the Indian government."

TASL is already on contract to manufacture aerostructures for Boeing's CH-47 Chinook and AH-6i helicopters. Other Tata group companies are also supplying important components to Boeing, including power and mission equipment cabinets and auxiliary power unit door fairings for the P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.