Lockheed Martin ready to manufacture F-16 jets in India

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

US fighter jet maker Lockheed Martin on Thursday said it is ready to manufacture F-16 aircraft in India and supports the ongoing talks between the two countries to set up the first manufacturing facility, one of the largest projects under the 'Make in India' initiative.

"We are ready to manufacture F-16 in India and support the Make in India initiative," Phil Shaw, chief executive of Lockheed Martin India Private Ltd told reporters at the Singapore Airshow 2016.

But the American corporation's executive did not commit any time-frame to have the plant operational, saying the group supports the ongoing government-to-government talks.

Shaw expressed strong interest in having the F-16 made in India "soon" without elaborating on the time-frame, linking it to the progress of the government-to-government talks.

Currently, Lockheed Martin manufactures one jet a month from its plant in the US and has a series of contracts and joint ventures in India with over 1,000 employees.

It has supplied six C130J Super Hercules planes to India in 2011 and will be delivering another six helicopters next year.

Industry observers said Lockheed Martin's "wish to manufacture F-16 is based on the strong demand from the Indian armed forces and would want to lower the cost of the planes for exports by using the low-cost capability in India".

"Certainly, Lockheed Martin would want to exploit the engineering skill and low cost capabilities in India and make F-16 very competitive in the fighter jet markets," a well-informed source said.

"Both the US government and Lockheed Martin see the advantage of placing a manufacturing base in India and make F-16 affordable for emerging markets," the source said.

The making of F-16, which will be among the largest projects under the Make in India initiative, will be conditional to the Indian government making contractual commitment to buy the fighter jets for its armed forces, said the source.

"Washington, in return, would ensure technology transfer to the Indian engineering sector and a huge boost to Indian exports," he said.

If the two government reach an agreement this year or 2017, putting aside all differences on the mega project and the US' move to supply eight F-16 to Pakistan, Lockheed Martin could roll out the first made in India jet in 2019-2020, said the source.

Lockheed Martin has already decided on India as its best option for low-cost and highly qualified engineering workforce, and the final go on this is dependent on approval from New Delhi and Washington.
Lockheed Martin ready to manufacture F-16 jets in India - Times of India

 

[C130]

well this would of made some sense in the early 2000s that would mean no Rafale and Tejas

100s of India made Vipers now that would of been something, but since Pakistan operates the F-16 as well that makes things complicated.

F/A 18 E/F could have been a solid alternative, but India was dead set on the Rafale.

was it the wrong choice we'll never know

 

[Tipu7]

Too late for F16In, FA18L,Gripen NG,Mig35 or EF Typhoon to make come back......................

 

[C130]

Too late for F16In, FA18L,Gripen NG,Mig35 or EF Typhoon to make come back......................

F/A 18L

 

[Skull and Bones]

What the damn hell!

 

[thesolar65]

Headache thread!!

 

[Piper]

It's raining jets for India!! They can have a reality show based when you think of all the drama on display...Oh Wait!! They already had one in form of MMRCA

 

[PARIKRAMA]

This F16s is the best way to eternally seal India Pakistan issues.. After all India should manufacture F16s and Pakistan should buy....

With military sales, trade relationship and inter dependency will increase further.. This will bring down chances of conflict and pave way for eternal peace between India and Pakistan.

This is the moment when Nobel Prize will be finally given to Lockheed Martin management for their extra ordinary effort and contribution for World Peace...

 

[illusion8]

What the damn hell!

SAAB, LM even Boeing - planning their production units in India. i don't see anything wrong with it, makes sense.

 

[Abba_Dabba_Jabba]

F-18 still makes sense, but F-16 ? Never. If F-18 after manufactured in India costs below 70 million buck then IAF & MOD should think about it. Plus there should be no sanctions if we reuse it's tech in home grown jets.

 

[jetray]

This F16s is the best way to eternally seal India Pakistan issues.. After all India should manufacture F16s and Pakistan should buy....

With military sales, trade relationship and inter dependency will increase further.. This will bring down chances of conflict and pave way for eternal peace between India and Pakistan.

This is the moment when Nobel Prize will be finally given to Lockheed Martin management for their extra ordinary effort and contribution for World Peace...

Are you kidding or what ? This is F16 killing machine not some life saving medicine. Mate you seriously have the sales man potential to sell ice to an eskimo.

well this would of made some sense in the early 2000s that would mean no Rafale and Tejas

May be yes, this whole idea of joint manufacture sucks big time simply bcos that indian partner just ends up becoming an integrator.

US wants to firmly entrench in India , sell various crap **** and prolong the conflict in Asia. Its high time India started introspecting on what it has achieved having deeper relationship with US. It might sound like a commie statement but it seems that we are on the way to becoming another la pakistan.

It is inevitable that in near future (after 10 years or so) India might be able to produce to decent mid range fighter. This is the only reason that many of the countries are offering to set up plants or indulge in gimmick of TOT. We should let local sector develop dynamically on its own based on needs of market. Any attempt at this stage to bring a big Daddy will just turn private sector to another HAL. Let the private sector fight their own battles and stand on their own feet.

Simply put its like banks who want to lend us money bcos we are going to become rich. Lets say thanks but no thanks.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Mere Bhai, Boeing wants to produce jets in India correct but by themselves with no partner or JV or DPSU..

Essentially thats the way US congress would agree so that IPR would be maintained by US MIC and come tomorrow, they can grab our necks in case we go against them or not toe their line of thought..

Think for a moment, which capitalist economy in the world will allow you a jet for say USD 70 Mn with full technology transfer unless and untill there is a catch someplace..

That catch is a 100% FDI case exception for Boeing to do everything and hold everything with no control by GOI/MOD for whatsoever reasons..

I urge you all go to rafale sticky.. This news came out a day before.. All cases of 18s, 16s and Gripen is discussed there with lots of views.. add your views there.. In fact i myself has posted whatever source said about Boeing/Gripen/EF deal offer..

Its many pages, but believe me your voices gives more credibility to understand whats going on here really..

Are you kidding or what ? This is F16 killing machine not some life saving medicine. Mate you seriously have the sales man potential to sell ice to an eskimo.

Bro, i was sarcastic.. said in jest.. trolling 16s story.. lol

 

[illusion8]

Are you kidding or what ? This is F16 killing machine not some life saving medicine. Mate you seriously have the sales man potential to sell ice to an eskimo.



May be yes, this whole idea of joint manufacture sucks big time simply bcos that indian partner just ends up becoming an integrator.

US wants to firmly entrench in India , sell various crap **** and prolong the conflict in Asia. Its high time India started oon what it has achieved having deeper relationship with US. It might sound like a commie statement but it seems that we are on the way to becoming another la pakistan.

It is inevitable that in near future (after 10 years or so) India might be able to produce to decent mid range fighter. This is the only reason that many of the countries are offering to set up plants or indulge in gimmick of TOT. We should let local sector develop dynamically on its own based on needs of market. Any attempt at this stage to bring a big Daddy will just turn private sector to another HAL. Let the private sector fight their own battles and stand on their own feet.

Simply put its like banks who want to lend us money bcos we are going to become rich. Lets say thanks but no thanks.

I am not sure what your experience is with regards to M&A's or JV's, but it completely makes sense for LM, Boeing or the tens of other US defense manufacturers to expand their already set bases in India.

In such deals - what happens is the parties gauge the benefits they can draw..India provides these manufacturers a low cost engineering, research & design and manufacturing base, which will help these companies improve their profitability.

India has a reasonably sound IP policy with regards to TOT's and mergers, also the private defense industry has opened up with options of even 100% equity holdings.

of course, they will count on the growing Indian market to boost sales,
of course they will have a few riders, these are quite understood.

The companies are here with interest to setup because that was the pitch of the Make in India campaign and the relaxation of investment in the defense sector provided by the GOI.

 

[General General]

This would kill off the Tejas project, and any other local production programs. It doesn't make sense for India to develop a medium fighter jet if they can manufacture the world's most battle proven plane that falls into the same category and does the same job.
India must keep the U.S. at arm's length and look at everything they offer from a critical perspective. The U.S. does not suddenly have a new found respect for India. They want to make India dependent by offering them attractive deals, sort of like a drug dealer would do to get someone addicted to their product. And when they are well and hooked, the dealer would start making more and more demanding requisitions. The "Make in India" should not be a blank check.

 

[jetray]

That catch is a 100% FDI case exception for Boeing to do everything and hold everything with no control by GOI/MOD for whatsoever reasons..

yup, we will simply get a black box with no idea of how it works or how to repair it. End result if it becomes defective throw it out, just like single pcb based modern LCD tvs.

But I dont understand how come they take us for idiots. They have the gall to sell f16's to pakistan , then issue a statement every things fine and then give us a bloody offer of a different weapon. We should ask them to set shop on the indo-pak border so they sell same weapon to both the countries one painted in green and the other saffron. They can obviously say saffron product is of higher spec which satisfies hindutva requirements and vice versa on other side of border.

Are we so bad in manufacturing or our foreign policy mandarins are literally kowtowing to them ?