NEW DELHI – Lockheed Martin Corp. will provide latest combat jettechnologies including a target tracking device aboard the F-16 aircraftthat it plans to offer to India in its bid for the world’s largest orderfrom the Indian Air Force.
The global defense giant will offer jets equipped with the advanced radarwhich is fitted on its fifth-generation combat jet, the F-35, as well as ahelmet-mounted tracking system and a new radio data link system, VivekLall, vice president for strategy and business development at LockheedMartin said Wednesday.
The bid also comes with an offer to shift its lone production line forF-16s from Fort Worth, Texas in the U.S. to India as it takes oncompetitors Saab AB and Boeing Co. The variant being pitched is the F-16Block 70.
“There are a lot of technologies that come into the F-16 from F-35 andF-22, including the latest radar on these platforms,” Lall said in aninterview. “It is a contemporary, state-of-the-art platform.”
Getting state-of-the-art fighters is crucial for Prime Minister NarendraModi as the South Asian nation faces increased risks from neighboringPakistan and China at a time when the Russian MiG jet — India’s mainstay– is being phased out. As part of that plan, India sought proposals fromglobal manufacturers for 110 combat planes, a deal worth at least $15billion.
India sought proposals from global manufacturers for 110 combat planes
*Defense Modernization*
The jet order is an attempt to modernize the South Asian nation’s defenseforces, a plan which could cost as much as $250 billion over a 10-yearperiod ending 2025. And Modi wants a significant part of it to be donelocally under his ‘Make in India’ campaign, which aims to promote domesticmanufacturing.
Lockheed Martin sees a huge export potential to provide over 200 F-16s tothe global market if India chooses the aircraft, Lall said. The winner ofthe combat jet tender will be required to establish a production linewithin three years.
“We already see a global rise in the demand for F-16 from the 25 air forcesaround the world that already fly them. This export potential for the F-16scould be met through the exclusive production line we propose to put up inIndia,” Lall said.
Lockheed Martin has received the request for information from India for theF-16s to meet its air force requirement, he said.