In exclusive deal, India to get ‘Most Advanced’ F-16 fighter jets by 2019-20

[raj76]

US defence major Lockheed Martin has firmed up its plans to produce the latest version of its iconic F16 fighter jets only in India under the ‘Make in India’ programme. The multibillion dollar deal was “finalised” during the recent visit of Lockheed Martin’s Chairman, President and CEO Marillyn Hewson here last week, a top official, involved in the talks, told BusinessLine. ‘Exclusively’ in India :: Under the deal, the company will be manufacturing the latest version of the jets – F16 Block 70/72 – that will be produced “exclusively” in India. This will be the “most advanced” version and will not be built anywhere else in the world. Lockheed Martin also plans to export them from the India plant at a later stage, the official said. The F16 project is a government to government deal that will be conducted through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. However, it seems Lockheed Martin has no plans to take the 100 per cent foreign direct investment route for the programme. It is likely to coproduce the F16s in collaboration with the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., which has been its partner for other defence and aerospace programmes such as the C130 cargo plane. The Maryland based firm is currently scouting for land to set up its manufacturing unit. According to sources, it is looking to set up the plant in a State that will have a runway near a port. India had long been demanding that the F16s it buys will have to be more advanced than what is sold to neighbouring Pakistan. However, with the recent push on IndiaUS defence ties, talks on setting up the F16 plant in India have steadily progressed. The deal was “almost finalised” when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Washington last month.

During this visit, Modi finalised the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US, which is one of the three crucial foundational agreements that strengthened IndiaUS defence ties. India is also negotiating the remaining two foundational pacts with US. As a result, the F16 programme of Lockheed Martin received a major thrust due to this strengthening of ties. Indian Air Force is in desperate need of modern fighter aircraft as it grapples with an ageing fleet.

http://www.defencenews.in/article/I...t-Advanced’-F-16-fighter-jets-by-2019-20-6645

 

[dadeechi]

In exclusive deal, India to get ‘most advanced’ F-16 fighter jets by 2019-20
Nayanima Basu



Marillyn Hewson Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin




Lockheed Martin is currently scouting for land to set up its manufacturing unit. According to sources, it is looking to set up the plant in a State that will have a runway near a port.

New Delhi, July 11:
US defence major Lockheed Martin has firmed up its plans to produce the latest version of its iconic F-16 fighter jets only in India under the ‘Make in India’ programme.

The multi-billion dollar deal was “finalised” during the recent visit of Lockheed Martin’s Chairman, President and CEO Marillyn Hewson here last week, a top official, involved in the talks, told BusinessLine.

‘Exclusively’ in India
Under the deal, the company will be manufacturing the latest version of the jets – F-16 Block 70/72 – that will be produced “exclusively” in India.

This will be the “most advanced” version and will not be built anywhere else in the world. Lockheed Martin also plans to export them from the India plant at a later stage, the official said. The F-16 project is a government-to-government deal that will be conducted through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.

However, it seems Lockheed Martin has no plans to take the 100 per cent foreign direct investment route for the programme. It is likely to co-produce the F-16s in collaboration with the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., which has been its partner for other defence and aerospace programmes such as the C-130 cargo plane.

The Maryland-based firm is currently scouting for land to set up its manufacturing unit. According to sources, it is looking to set up the plant in a State that will have a runway near a port.

India had long been demanding that the F-16s it buys will have to be more advanced than what is sold to neighbouring Pakistan.

However, with the recent push on India-US defence ties, talks on setting up the F-16 plant in India have steadily progressed. The deal was “almost finalised” when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Washington last month.

During this visit, Modi finalised the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US, which is one of the three crucial foundational agreements that strengthened India-US defence ties.

India is also negotiating the remaining two foundational pacts with US.

As a result, the F-16 programme of Lockheed Martin received a major thrust due to this strengthening of ties. Indian Air Force is in desperate need of modern fighter aircraft as it grapples with an ageing fleet.


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/in-exclusive-deal-india-to-get-most-advanced-f16-fighter-jets-by-201920/article8835851.ece

 

[Pandora]

Block 70/72

Block 60 is the latest version which was developed for UAE and india will probably get the same deal if we take the news to be true.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Omfg, if this happens... My mind blown... Things have really been thrown in the air. Prefer the F18 though.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com...f16-fighter-jets-by-201920/article8835851.ece

However, it seems Lockheed Martin has no plans to take the 100 per cent foreign direct investment route for the programme. It is likely to co-produce the F-16s in collaboration with the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., which has been its partner for other defence and aerospace programmes such as the C-130 cargo plane.

 

[Agent_47]

Damn, Hindu business line is reporting it.
Lets hope its not true.

 

[Nilgiri]

Block 70/72

Block 60 is the latest version which was developed for UAE and india will probably get the same deal if we take the news to be true.

It would be based on block 60 as a rough starting point, but would have some changes that makes it a new block.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

US India relations have really taken a 180 if this happens. WOW.

 

[dadeechi]

@PARIKRAMA @Stephen Cohen @Abingdonboy @Nilgiri @anant_s @Water Car Engineer @sathya @cerberus @hellfire @randomradio @third eye

 

[That Guy]

Good news, PAF finally have a good timeline on when to start getting rid of its F-16 fleet....if this news is true, which seems a bit fishy.

 

[CHD]

In exclusive deal, India to get ‘most advanced’ F-16 fighter jets by 2019-20
Nayanima Basu



Marillyn Hewson Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin




Lockheed Martin is currently scouting for land to set up its manufacturing unit. According to sources, it is looking to set up the plant in a State that will have a runway near a port.

New Delhi, July 11:
US defence major Lockheed Martin has firmed up its plans to produce the latest version of its iconic F-16 fighter jets only in India under the ‘Make in India’ programme.

The multi-billion dollar deal was “finalised” during the recent visit of Lockheed Martin’s Chairman, President and CEO Marillyn Hewson here last week, a top official, involved in the talks, told BusinessLine.

‘Exclusively’ in India
Under the deal, the company will be manufacturing the latest version of the jets – F-16 Block 70/72 – that will be produced “exclusively” in India.

This will be the “most advanced” version and will not be built anywhere else in the world. Lockheed Martin also plans to export them from the India plant at a later stage, the official said. The F-16 project is a government-to-government deal that will be conducted through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.

However, it seems Lockheed Martin has no plans to take the 100 per cent foreign direct investment route for the programme. It is likely to co-produce the F-16s in collaboration with the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., which has been its partner for other defence and aerospace programmes such as the C-130 cargo plane.

The Maryland-based firm is currently scouting for land to set up its manufacturing unit. According to sources, it is looking to set up the plant in a State that will have a runway near a port.

India had long been demanding that the F-16s it buys will have to be more advanced than what is sold to neighbouring Pakistan.

However, with the recent push on India-US defence ties, talks on setting up the F-16 plant in India have steadily progressed. The deal was “almost finalised” when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Washington last month.

During this visit, Modi finalised the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US, which is one of the three crucial foundational agreements that strengthened India-US defence ties.

India is also negotiating the remaining two foundational pacts with US.

As a result, the F-16 programme of Lockheed Martin received a major thrust due to this strengthening of ties. Indian Air Force is in desperate need of modern fighter aircraft as it grapples with an ageing fleet.


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/in-exclusive-deal-india-to-get-most-advanced-f16-fighter-jets-by-201920/article8835851.ece

Pehle Rafael to ane do, already PDF is full of Rafael and tejas

 

[That Guy]

Also, I don't know why India is going for F-16s, seems like a poor choice. They'd be adding a new system, one that is a fairly old design, and just adding to their over all operational costs. I don't know, it seems like this was more of a political decision, rather than one based upon Indian defense needs.

Not to mention that people are starting to stir away from the F-16, because a F-16 successors already exists...they're called the Rafale and Typhoon.

 

[S10]

Why? What happened to the Rafale?

 

[Nilgiri]

@PARIKRAMA @Stephen Cohen @Abingdonboy @Nilgiri @anant_s @Water Car Engineer @sathya @cerberus @hellfire @randomradio @third eye

What is the remaining production line schedule for the lockheed-formerGD facilities?

Also, I don't know why India is going for F-16s, seems like a poor choice. They'd be adding a new system, one that is a fairly old design, and just adding to their over all operational costs. I don't know, it seems like this was more of a political decision, rather than one based upon Indian defense needs.

Not to mention that people are starting to stir away from the F-16, because a F-16 successors already exists...they're called the Rafale and Typhoon.

Its media hype for now. Till we hear anything from Indian MOD officially, take it with a good bucket of salt.

 

[Pandora]

Also, I don't know why India is going for F-16s, seems like a poor choice. They'd be adding a new system, one that is a fairly old design, and just adding to their over all operational costs. I don't know, it seems like this was more of a political decision, rather than one based upon Indian defense needs.

Not to mention that people are starting to stir away from the F-16, because a F-16 successors already exists...they're called the Rafale and Typhoon.

I wonder if Indians will buy typhoon, gripen and SU35 as well so Pakistan cant get their hands on it .

 

[ito]

F 16 could be a stop gap arrangement until Tejas matures.

But India should also make it clear the case of Rafale., It is going on and on and on. There seem to no forward movement on PAK-FA either.