F-16 at G-to-G talks
Government-to-Goverment talks are ongoing for setting up #F-16 fighter jet manufacturing facility in India but with a strong contract for the aircraft to convince #President Donald Trump, an industry observer said.
Trump, reviewing all American industries, has been briefed of plan to manufacture F-16 in India. But a contract from the Indian #Defence Ministry to add F-16 as part of Air Force fleet would help expedite these discussions which are just about holding back the final investment in the manufacturing facility in India.
Lockheed Martin has worked out the full potential of making F-16 in India for both the Indian Air Force and exports, said the observer on the sidelines of the ongoing #Aero India 2017 exhibition in Begaluru 14-18 Feb.
It is a military-sensitive project but the Americans are aware of the huge potential of making F-16 in India and compete in the international defence market.
The F-16’s capacity can be upgraded to match any rival, the observer added.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has confirmed the ongoing government-to-government discussions at the the Bengaluru air show.
“The conversation has progressed to the point that we are deferring at this point to the government-to-government conversation. And that conversation is ongoing,” said #Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Integrated Fighter, Director, Business Development.
“We had really very strong support up to this point. The discussions have progressed to the point that the requirements need to be more fully articulated…,” he said.
Lockheed wants to shift its lone production line of the latest version of F 16-Block 70 to India from Texas to meet Indian and global requirement.
It is also in dicussions to have a strategic partner in India for making the aircraft.
However, it has made it clear the proposal is “conditional” to Indian Air Force choosing the world’s largest-sold fighter aircraft for its fleet. fii-news.com
