Farnborough 2012: Honeywell predicts 'much faster' defence growth than commercial in India

Honeywell's defence work in India could increase "much faster than the commercial side" as the government refurbishes its Russian aircraft and works through its backlog of new procurements, according to Pritam Bhavnani, President of Honeywell Aerospace in India.

The company will be able to respond fast to new opportunities due to its long-established presence in the country but is unperturbed by expectations of slower Indian economic growth in the years ahead, Bhavnani told IHS Jane's at the Farnborough Airshow on 11 July.

Honeywell's defence work in India has "different flavours and variations to it", he said, but focuses on two core areas: delivering products to original equipment manufacturers working on Indian contracts, and the supply of parts for continued use of equipment.

"The defence side has so [many] more moving parts than the commercial side," he said. Military work "could kick up much faster than the commercial side" in terms of contract size and the dollar values attached, but both sides of the business "are growing rapidly".

Bhavnani expects significant work on India's inventory of Russian military aircraft – which he estimates constitutes about 70 per cent of its fleet – thanks to work on modifications and upgrades.