IDEX 2017: Future F-16 Fighter Jets To be Made in USA

[Zarvan]

IDEX 2017: Future F-16 Fighter Jets To be Made in USA
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Future customers of F-16 fighter jets will get them shipped from the USA, a Lockheed Martin executive said implying an end to licence-manufacture of the aircraft in foreign countries.

Rick Groesch, Lockheed’s regional vice president, was quoted as saying at the IDEX 2017 show in Abu Dhabi yesterday, "The next customer that we sell F-16 to we will build them in the US."

Lockheed Martin has in the past assembled F-16s in Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands in the past. However with the arrival of the Trump administration with its focus on keeping American jobs at home, US companies have to rework their export strategies.

The policy shift puts a big questions mark over Lockheed Martin’s and also Boeing’s pitch to manufacture the F-16 and the F/A-18 aircraft in India under the ‘Make in India’ Program. Both companies are in contention to manufacture single engine (F-16) and twin engine (F/A-18) jets in India to meet Indian Air Force requirements as well as to export them from India.

While Lockheed has offered to shift its F-16 plant to India and use up the space to meet growing demand for the F-35, Boeing has offered to set up modern plant in India provided it gets an order for around 100 aircraft.

Lockheed Martin is eyeing to upgrade F-16 aircraft with Middle Eastern customers such as UAE and Egypt besides completing the supply of 5-6 planes out of a 30 aircraft order meant for Iraq.

The US based firm is also in the running to supply some 19 new F-16s to Bahrain in addition to upgrading a quarter century old 20 Block 40 aircraft.

Lockheed is making presentations in the Middle East and Asia to evince interest in the latest F-16 version known as the F-16V which comes with advancements in radar, communications and weapons systems over earlier versions of the fighter jet.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/18...6_Fighter_Jets_To_be_Made_in_USA#.WK10Zzt95PY

 

[kmc_chacko]

IDEX 2017: Future F-16 Fighter Jets To be Made in USA
- A +
Future customers of F-16 fighter jets will get them shipped from the USA, a Lockheed Martin executive said implying an end to licence-manufacture of the aircraft in foreign countries.

Rick Groesch, Lockheed’s regional vice president, was quoted as saying at the IDEX 2017 show in Abu Dhabi yesterday, "The next customer that we sell F-16 to we will build them in the US."

Lockheed Martin has in the past assembled F-16s in Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands in the past. However with the arrival of the Trump administration with its focus on keeping American jobs at home, US companies have to rework their export strategies.

The policy shift puts a big questions mark over Lockheed Martin’s and also Boeing’s pitch to manufacture the F-16 and the F/A-18 aircraft in India under the ‘Make in India’ Program. Both companies are in contention to manufacture single engine (F-16) and twin engine (F/A-18) jets in India to meet Indian Air Force requirements as well as to export them from India.

While Lockheed has offered to shift its F-16 plant to India and use up the space to meet growing demand for the F-35, Boeing has offered to set up modern plant in India provided it gets an order for around 100 aircraft.

Lockheed Martin is eyeing to upgrade F-16 aircraft with Middle Eastern customers such as UAE and Egypt besides completing the supply of 5-6 planes out of a 30 aircraft order meant for Iraq.

The US based firm is also in the running to supply some 19 new F-16s to Bahrain in addition to upgrading a quarter century old 20 Block 40 aircraft.

Lockheed is making presentations in the Middle East and Asia to evince interest in the latest F-16 version known as the F-16V which comes with advancements in radar, communications and weapons systems over earlier versions of the fighter jet.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/18...6_Fighter_Jets_To_be_Made_in_USA#.WK10Zzt95PY

Bye F-16, there goes F-16 chance of flying in IAF colours

 

[The Eagle]

There was a reason that certain countries were silence over any possibility of future assembly line in foreign country. LM has to keep up not just its quality and customer's trust but indeed the Trump's administration believe in "America First" However, people tensed and been enjoying over Make in India F-16s delivered or not to many countries will not be happy with this situation. India and other possible contenders should have accepted the offer before Trump making it to D.C.

@Khafee @gambit @Abingdonboy @randomradio

 

[TruthHurtz]

Yeah where else? Samoa? lol

 

[Dem!god]

If this comes out to be true, than many indian defence enthusiast would be thanking trump adminstration.

 

[egodoc222]

There was a reason that certain countries were silence over any possibility of future assembly line in foreign country. LM has to keep up not just its quality and customer's trust but indeed the Trump's administration believe in "America First" However, people tensed and been enjoying over Make in India F-16s delivered or not to many countries will not be happy with this situation. India and other possible contenders should have accepted the offer before Trump making it to D.C.

@Khafee @gambit @Abingdonboy @randomradio

If they transfer the production line...chances of them getting the deal is next to zero!!
It seems like future is bright for gripen!!
I don't understand one thing....if Lockheed doesn't get India deal(new orders) even then their wouldn't be new jobs...right ?

 

[Ryuzaki]

If they want to shift F-16 line to India,then how will they be exported from USA?

 

[The Eagle]

If they transfer the production line...chances of them getting the deal is next to zero!!
It seems like future is bright for gripen!!
I don't understand one thing....if Lockheed doesn't get India deal(new orders) even then their wouldn't be new jobs...right ?

I don't think so, F-16 assembly line in US is still expecting few orders hence, the decision otherwise, wouldn't announce and make someone anger like this.

If they want to shift F-16 line to India,then how will they be exported from USA?

This article says, there will be no foreign assembly line. They are not shifting.

Future customers of F-16 fighter jets will get them shipped from the USA, a Lockheed Martin executive said implying an end to licence-manufacture of the aircraft in foreign countries.

 

[WiderMan]

oh poor neighbors, they wanted the production line so badly, just to keep us from acquiring more vipers or parts for them. Guess they won't be mocking us anymore.

 

[Ryuzaki]

oh poor neighbors, they wanted the production line so badly, just to keep us from acquiring more vipers or parts for them. Guess they won't be mocking us anymore.

F-16 was offered by Lockheed,It was not requested by Indian government.

 

[egodoc222]

I don't think so, F-16 assembly line in US is still expecting few orders hence, the decision otherwise, wouldn't announce and make someone anger like this.



This article says, there will be no foreign assembly line. They are not shifting.

Future customers of F-16 fighter jets will get them shipped from the USA, a Lockheed Martin executive said implying an end to licence-manufacture of the aircraft in foreign countries.

Except for MLU or spares may be...I don't see any new orders coming f16 way....Lockheed has been pitching f35 for the NATO countries!!

 

[The Eagle]

Except for MLU or spares may be...I don't see any new orders coming f16 way....Lockheed has been pitching f35 for the NATO countries!!

I don't have correct count of orders at the moment but somewhere read it that at-least the line will be active till 2019 or so means, IMO, there are/will be orders. F-35 is not for Gulf countries and we may expect few F-16s for Iraq as well. Let's see how this move come-up.

 

[WiderMan]

F-16 was offered by Lockheed,It was not requested by Indian government.

Oh i see, and the Indian government didn't want to manufacture the advanced viper at home? i thought you chaps wanted to become one of the world's biggest arms exporters.

 

[randomradio]

There was a reason that certain countries were silence over any possibility of future assembly line in foreign country. LM has to keep up not just its quality and customer's trust but indeed the Trump's administration believe in "America First" However, people tensed and been enjoying over Make in India F-16s delivered or not to many countries will not be happy with this situation. India and other possible contenders should have accepted the offer before Trump making it to D.C.

@Khafee @gambit @Abingdonboy @randomradio

This is very good news. It means F-16 has no chance in India now. The outgoing air chief also rooted for Gripen to win.

I don't have correct count of orders at the moment but somewhere read it that at-least the line will be active till 2019 or so means, IMO, there are/will be orders. F-35 is not for Gulf countries and we may expect few F-16s for Iraq as well. Let's see how this move come-up.

They have orders only until the end of 2017. They need more orders to keep the line open.

 

[The Eagle]

Reportedly, Block-70 for Bahrain in discussion along-with upgrade of UAE and Egypt fleet. Iraq deliveries will be completed this year.