*Singapore: *Lockheed Martin sees decades of business opportunities to makethe latest and most advanced 4th generation multi-role F-16V fighter jetsin India for its air force and exports, a top official of the Americandefence firm said today.
The F-16V, where the V suffix is for its Viper nickname, is claimed by thecompany to be the latest and most advanced combat-proven jet of the familyin the market.
“If selected, we expect the production of F-16V from India to go on fordecades. There are opportunities out there for delivering F-16s,” JoeLaMarca, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company said.
“If we are successful in India, that would provide that opportunities (forexports) to countries that would want that plane,” he added.
“If Lockheed Martin sets up production in India, any future orders fromoutside will be met through the jets made in India,” LaMarca said, addingthat it has been the offer from the company to India.
“We are still confident with the F-16V (offer to make in India). It is theright choice and provides most capability for India and for futureopportunities (exports),” he said at the Singapore Airshow here.
He also noted that the Indian Air Force requires 100 single-seat fighterjets.
The F-16V has been upgraded to 12,000-hour airplane lifespan, animprovement from 6,000-8,000-hour in the past jet of the same model.
It can also be refurbished under service life extension programme, theofficial said.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin, he said, is relocating the F-16 plant toGreenville in South Carolina from Fort Worth in Texas to commenceproduction for the 16 jets worth USD 3.8 billion ordered by Bahrain inOctober last year.
Production is expected to commence from 2021 onwards.
Requirement of more space at Fort Worth for the F-35 plant necessitatedrelocation of F-16 plant, LaMarca said. – PTI