Lockheed Martin ready to manufacture F-16 Fighter Jets in India: TOI
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NEW DELHI: US Premier Defence Technologies Company Lockheed Martin claimed to manufacture F-16 fighter jets in India.
US and India discussed to set up manufacturing plant under ‘Make in India’ initiative.
CEO of Lockheed Martin Phil Shaw said “we are ready to manufacture F-16 aircraft in India and support the Make in India initiative.”
No time frame for operational plant was mentioned as it depends on government to government talks.
If the two governments agreed this year the first made in India jet will be manufactured in 2019-2020.
The manufacturing in India will reduce the export cost and it will be affordable for emerging markets.
Shaw said “Washington, in return, would ensure technology transfer to the Indian engineering sector and a huge boost to Indian exports.”
Currently Lockheed Martin is manufacturing one jet from US plant in one month.
The company has also formed a joint venture company with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture airframe components for C-130J.
Pakistan is purchasing eight F-16 fighter jets from US and India summoned US envoy and said that it has ‘disappointed’ India.
F-16 aircrafts are used by at least 26 countries and Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, South Korea and US have manufacturing facilities.
