Boeing: May Respond To India's Request For Refueling Planes In 2 Weeks

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Boeing: May Respond To India's Request For Refueling Planes In 2 Weeks

NEW DELHI -(Dow Jones)- Boeing Co. (BA) may respond within two weeks to initial requests for information from India for six refueling tankers, a company executive said Monday.

"Our teams are studying the proposal for six refuelers," Vivek Lall, vice president and India country head for Boeing Defense Space & Security, told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of Defense Expo.
Refueling tankers are used to refuel airplanes during flight.

Lall also said the company will begin field trials for the C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifters in spring.

India's defense ministry and the Indian Air Force had earlier submitted a request to the U.S. government for the potential acquisition of 10 such airlifters.

Boeing: May Respond To India's Request For Refueling Planes In 2 Weeks

 

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From the feb edition of the Force magazine Lockheed Martin CEO Roger Rose also confirmed that they too received a RFI from IAF and considering a response to this RFI

 

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Here the full interview from Force Magazine

What is Lockheed Martin’s focus at
the upcoming DefExpo 2010? What
solutions will be highlighted at your
stand?
Lockheed Martin has an expansive
portfolio covering the three defence
services, homeland security and much
more. The company’s focus will be to
provide an update on on-going programs,
including the C-130J Hercules
delivery, and the ongoing competition
for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
(MMRCA), where LM has fielded
its F-16IN Super Viper. With regards to
Lockheed Martin’s maritime portfolio,
topping the list is the multi-role MH-60
Romeo helicopter. Lockheed Martin has
responded to the RFP issued by Indian
Navy for Multi-Role Helicopters and now
awaits down-select for field trials. Also
a focus of Lockheed Martin India is the
Aegis Combat System for cooperation in
the field of missile defence system. Our
broad range of capabilities also includes
the Deep Submergence Vehicle which
has been proposed to India’s National
Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT ),
as a joint program for US-Indian deep
ocean exploration, and renewable energy
capabilities. Lockheed Martin and
NIOT are world leaders in OTE C (Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion) power
generation and desalination technology.
For the Indian Army the focus is on
the combat proven anti-tank ‘fire and
forget’ Javelin and Hellfire missiles.

Will Lockheed Martin make an offer
for the mid-air refuellers now that
the deal for the refuellers has been
scrapped with the EADS?
We have received a request for information
for flight refueling aircraft from
the IAF and are considering a response.

What is the progress on setting up of
support facilities for C-130J in India?
Besides, what is the progress with
talks with BSF and NDMA for the same
platform?
The C-130J Infrastructure project at
Hindon is progressing on schedule and
we are committed to deliver per the
requirements and within the approved
budget. The IAF has shown complete
satisfaction with the progress of work
so far. Also, we are working closely with
IAF to ensure that the facility is substantially
ready before the arrival of first aircraft.

According to your assessment of the
Indian homeland security, what solutions
Lockheed Martin has to offer?
What has been the progress with
MHA?
Lockheed Martin homeland security
and homeland defence capabilities and
solutions continue to grow to meet ever
changing security threats in the 21st
century, including those facing India today.
We help to secure the national Sovereignty
of nations and individual security
for its citizens. Lockheed Martin
has the flexibility, strength, and diversity
to bring transformational technology,
ideas, and processes to homeland
security and homeland defence. We
are a horizontally integrated company
that focuses strategies, marshal competencies,
integrates solutions, directs
resources, streamlines processes and
infuses technology to meet the needs of
this dynamic environment.