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Lockheed Martin Hardsells 'Next Generation' F-16's to Indian Air Force
The US F-16 combat jet is best suited to enable the Indian Air Force (IAF) to transit to fifth-generation fighters, says its manufacturer Lockheed Martin, even as it prepares to expand global opportunities for new Indian technologies.
The company is also hoping to soon ink a deal for the IAF purchase of six C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft that will be used to ferry personnel of the Indian Army's Special Forces, as also troopers of the paramilitary forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
The firm has also showcased an array of helicopters, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and missile systems to the Indian armed forces.
'The latest version of the F-16 we are offering incorporates the advanced avionics, stealth and other critical systems of our F-22 and the F-35 jets (the only two-fifth generation fighters that are currently flying),' said Ralph D. Heath, the executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Corporation.
'To that extent, the F-16 is the most advanced combat jet of its kind that is flying today,' Heath, who is also president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, told IANS.
'We have a profound advantage over the competition as we believe the F-16 is the fastest path for the IAF to the fifth-generation fighter,' he added.
India and Russia are currently engaged in the joint design of a fifth generation fighter but its production is at least a decade away. And, while Lockheed Martin is not saying so now, it is obvious it will focus on promoting the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightening-II once the current IAF order for 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) is out of the way.
Lockheed Martin has been aggressively pitching the F-16 for the IAF order, terming it 'the most successful combat aircraft programme in history'.
Pointing to the fact that over 4,000 F-16s are currently flying worldwide, Heath noted that the company had received 51 repeat orders for the jet, 'an indication of its reliability and the reputation it has established'.
The IAF needs the MRCAs to replace its fast-depleting fleet of Soviet-era MiG-series jets.
The F-16 is one of seven fighters in the race for the IAF order, the others being the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Russian MiG-35, the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen, the French Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale, and the European four-nation Typhoon.
The IAF had projected its requirement in 2001, at a time when it was operating with 39 1/2 squadrons against its sanctioned strength of 45. The IAF is now down to 30 squadrons, with analysts saying its actual requirement is actually 200 aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of MiG-21s, as also the MiG-23s and MiG-27s that are being phased out as they have outlived their service life.
In 2004, a request for information was sent out for four jets - the F-16, the Russian MiG-29M/M2, the Mirage 2000-5 and the Gripen. In addition, the manufacturers of the F-18, the Rafale and the Typhoon also sent in their proposals. Early this year, the Russians offered the MiG-35, essentially the MiG-29 with an upgraded engine.
The IAF request for proposal - the next stage in the acquisition process after which price negotiations were to be held - was to have been sent to the short-listed manufacturers in 2005 but is nowhere in sight.
In the midst of all this, a Bush administration official has also pitched in for the F-16, saying it is best suited for interoperability of the Indian and US air forces in the fight against global terrorism.
'I am not here to sell aeroplanes, but I can tell you that the F-16 is the best there is as we attempt interoperability between our air forces in the global fight against terror,' Bruce S. Lemkin, US deputy undersecretary of the air force, said in New Delhi last month.
Speaking about the C-130J Super Hercules, Heath said negotiations were in an advanced stage for the IAF order.
Apart from the two aircraft, Lockheed Martin also hopes to sell to the Indian armed forces the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, the MH-60R maritime-dominance helicopter, the Patriot PAC-3 missile defence system, the ship-mounted Littoral Combat Solution (LCS) system, and the MK-41 vertical launching system (VLS) for firing missiles at sea.
Speaking about the India Innovation Growth Programme, Lockheed Martin says it is sponsoring this initiative 'to demonstrate that we intend to be a corporate partner with the government and industries of India for many years to come, in many different ways'.
'We will provide all the funding for the India Innovation Growth Programme and will be inviting Indian technologists, researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs to apply for participation, as we begin a structured search for promising technologies with commercial applications on a global scale,' said Orville Prins, the company's vice president for India business development.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries has joined Lockheed Martin's US academic partner, the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, in administering the programme.
http://www.india-defence.com/reports/3060
The US F-16 combat jet is best suited to enable the Indian Air Force (IAF) to transit to fifth-generation fighters, says its manufacturer Lockheed Martin, even as it prepares to expand global opportunities for new Indian technologies.
The company is also hoping to soon ink a deal for the IAF purchase of six C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft that will be used to ferry personnel of the Indian Army's Special Forces, as also troopers of the paramilitary forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
The firm has also showcased an array of helicopters, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and missile systems to the Indian armed forces.
'The latest version of the F-16 we are offering incorporates the advanced avionics, stealth and other critical systems of our F-22 and the F-35 jets (the only two-fifth generation fighters that are currently flying),' said Ralph D. Heath, the executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Corporation.
'To that extent, the F-16 is the most advanced combat jet of its kind that is flying today,' Heath, who is also president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, told IANS.
'We have a profound advantage over the competition as we believe the F-16 is the fastest path for the IAF to the fifth-generation fighter,' he added.
India and Russia are currently engaged in the joint design of a fifth generation fighter but its production is at least a decade away. And, while Lockheed Martin is not saying so now, it is obvious it will focus on promoting the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightening-II once the current IAF order for 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) is out of the way.
Lockheed Martin has been aggressively pitching the F-16 for the IAF order, terming it 'the most successful combat aircraft programme in history'.
Pointing to the fact that over 4,000 F-16s are currently flying worldwide, Heath noted that the company had received 51 repeat orders for the jet, 'an indication of its reliability and the reputation it has established'.
The IAF needs the MRCAs to replace its fast-depleting fleet of Soviet-era MiG-series jets.
The F-16 is one of seven fighters in the race for the IAF order, the others being the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Russian MiG-35, the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen, the French Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale, and the European four-nation Typhoon.
The IAF had projected its requirement in 2001, at a time when it was operating with 39 1/2 squadrons against its sanctioned strength of 45. The IAF is now down to 30 squadrons, with analysts saying its actual requirement is actually 200 aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of MiG-21s, as also the MiG-23s and MiG-27s that are being phased out as they have outlived their service life.
In 2004, a request for information was sent out for four jets - the F-16, the Russian MiG-29M/M2, the Mirage 2000-5 and the Gripen. In addition, the manufacturers of the F-18, the Rafale and the Typhoon also sent in their proposals. Early this year, the Russians offered the MiG-35, essentially the MiG-29 with an upgraded engine.
The IAF request for proposal - the next stage in the acquisition process after which price negotiations were to be held - was to have been sent to the short-listed manufacturers in 2005 but is nowhere in sight.
In the midst of all this, a Bush administration official has also pitched in for the F-16, saying it is best suited for interoperability of the Indian and US air forces in the fight against global terrorism.
'I am not here to sell aeroplanes, but I can tell you that the F-16 is the best there is as we attempt interoperability between our air forces in the global fight against terror,' Bruce S. Lemkin, US deputy undersecretary of the air force, said in New Delhi last month.
Speaking about the C-130J Super Hercules, Heath said negotiations were in an advanced stage for the IAF order.
Apart from the two aircraft, Lockheed Martin also hopes to sell to the Indian armed forces the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, the MH-60R maritime-dominance helicopter, the Patriot PAC-3 missile defence system, the ship-mounted Littoral Combat Solution (LCS) system, and the MK-41 vertical launching system (VLS) for firing missiles at sea.
Speaking about the India Innovation Growth Programme, Lockheed Martin says it is sponsoring this initiative 'to demonstrate that we intend to be a corporate partner with the government and industries of India for many years to come, in many different ways'.
'We will provide all the funding for the India Innovation Growth Programme and will be inviting Indian technologists, researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs to apply for participation, as we begin a structured search for promising technologies with commercial applications on a global scale,' said Orville Prins, the company's vice president for India business development.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries has joined Lockheed Martin's US academic partner, the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, in administering the programme.
http://www.india-defence.com/reports/3060
