NEW DELHI – US defence and aerospace company Lockheed Martin has offeredits newly rolled out F-21 fighter jets exclusively to India, Press Trust ofIndia reported.
The defence giant will not sell the F-21’s to any other country if Indiaplaces an order for 114 jets, with the move being used to pitch itselfahead of its US, European and Russian competitors.
Vivek Lall, the strategy and business development vice president atLockheed Martin, said if his company wins the Indian Air Force (IAF)contract, India will be integrated into the company’s global fighterecosystem, which is a $165 billion market.
“We will not sell this platform and the configuration to anyone in theworld. It is a significant commitment by Lockheed Martin and it shows theimportance of India and importance of unique requirement India has,” Lallsaid while speaking to Press Trust of India.
Lall further stated if Lockheed Martin wins the contract, they will set upan F-21 manufacturing facility in India along with the Tata Group, and alsohelp the country create an economy to boost their defence manufacturing.
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In April, the IAF issued an initial tender to acquire the 114 fighter jetsfor around $18 billion, a deal which can be described one of the world’sbiggest military procurement in recent years.
The F-21 is different from Lockheed’s F-16 Block 70 in terms of airframe,weapons capability and engine matrix.
“As for example, you are now looking at 12,000 hours of service lifeairframe in F-21 versus 8,000 hours previously (F-16 Block 70). Theadditional 40 per cent weapons carrying capability is new in F-21 which wasnot there in F-16 Block 70. The electronic warfare system is uniquelydeveloped for India. Looking from a distance may make it look similar toF-16 Block 70, but it is different,” Lall stated.
