United States defence contractor Lockheed
Martin, pitching for a $10 billion deal from the Indian Air Force, will for the first time let its advanced fighter jet F-16 participate in a flying display at the Indian air show.
MUMBAI: United States defence contractor Lockheed Martin, pitching for a $10 billion deal from the Indian Air Force, will for the first time let its advanced fighter jet F-16 participate in a flying display at the Indian air show.
"Yes... we will be bring the F-16s for AeroIndia (2007) and of course, this time we are here for flying," Lockheed Martin Global Inc Managing Director Royce L Kaplinger said.
The company hopes to impress the top Indian defence personnel at the airshow to win a fighter jet deal. The airshow will be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bangalore in the first week of February.
During the last edition of the Indian aero exposition, Lockheed's rival Boeing flew its F-18 fighters, which is also in the race for the multi-billion dollar contract.
Lockheed Martin also plans to sell its maritime patrol aircraft P3C Orion and MH16 Romeo submarine hunting helicopters to Indian Navy, besides bidding for a cargo airplane deal to sell its C130 J Hercules.
More than 4,000 F-16s have been sold since it began production in 1976 and now Lockheed produces these aircraft for the export market.
Besides the military contracts, the company plans tie-ups with Indian firms for sourcing components and parts as ‘'there exists a conducive business environment'’.
"The geo-political situation has changed... India and US have signed a nuclear deal. Now, we are here for making our presence in India... not through an office and just sell our products but also seeking partnerships here," Kaplinger said.
"Many people in India know about F-16 but not about Lockheed. Definitely we want to make a change," he added.
However, he declined to divulge details on the type of partnership the US firm is looking for and which are the companies they were talking to.
In 2005, the company had signed a technical assistance agreement relating to the P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft programme with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
Formed in 1995 after the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta Corporation, Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defence contractor with revenues to the tune of $38 billion. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed employs about 1,40,000 people worldwide.
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