Lockheed raises pitch for F-16s

[dadeechi]

Lockheed raises pitch for F-16s

Head of the aerospace giant meets Jaitley; manufacture, technology transfer on the agenda
Lockheed Martin chief Marillyn Hewson met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday. Ms. Hewson is the chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the military aerospace giant that makes the F-16 fighter jets.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of the U.S. push to sell F-16 jets to India and their manufacture in the country with technology transfer.

Sources told The Hindu that a three-member team from Lockheed, including Ms. Hewson, met Mr. Jaitley in his office for 20 minutes.

As reported by The Hindu earlier, the proposal for shifting the F-16 assembly line to India was discussed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the U.S. last month

Crucial visit
Underscoring the importance of Ms. Hewson’s visit were hoardings welcoming her put up across central Delhi by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and others, not a common practice for a company head.

While negotiations with France have been dragging on for the direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said India would select another fighter by the year-end to replace the MiG-21 jets. In anticipation of a fresh contest, Lockheed with F-16, Boeing with F-18 and SAAB with Gripen have pitched in their aircraft along with offers of significant technology transfer and setting up assembly lines in India under the Make in India initiative.

While F-16 is a modern fourth-generation multi-role fighter, the jet has been in service for over four decades, something that needs to be factored in by India as any fighter jet selected will be the mainstay of the Indian Air Force for another four decades

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lockheed-raises-pitch-for-f16s/article8820284.ece

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

Lockheed raises pitch for F-16s

Head of the aerospace giant meets Jaitley; manufacture, technology transfer on the agenda
Lockheed Martin chief Marillyn Hewson met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday. Ms. Hewson is the chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the military aerospace giant that makes the F-16 fighter jets.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of the U.S. push to sell F-16 jets to India and their manufacture in the country with technology transfer.

Sources told The Hindu that a three-member team from Lockheed, including Ms. Hewson, met Mr. Jaitley in his office for 20 minutes.

As reported by The Hindu earlier, the proposal for shifting the F-16 assembly line to India was discussed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the U.S. last month

Crucial visit
Underscoring the importance of Ms. Hewson’s visit were hoardings welcoming her put up across central Delhi by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and others, not a common practice for a company head.

While negotiations with France have been dragging on for the direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said India would select another fighter by the year-end to replace the MiG-21 jets. In anticipation of a fresh contest, Lockheed with F-16, Boeing with F-18 and SAAB with Gripen have pitched in their aircraft along with offers of significant technology transfer and setting up assembly lines in India under the Make in India initiative.

While F-16 is a modern fourth-generation multi-role fighter, the jet has been in service for over four decades, something that needs to be factored in by India as any fighter jet selected will be the mainstay of the Indian Air Force for another four decades

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lockheed-raises-pitch-for-f16s/article8820284.ece

American jet Will be made in India. This is forgone. The question is when and in what numbers. This will surely boost Indian millitary industrial complex. The effects of this will be far reaching in the power balance of Asia. Bold strategic moves on part of India. What can
China do to counter this?

 

[-xXx-]

American jet Will be made in India. This is forgone. The question is when and in what numbers. This will surely boost Indian millitary industrial complex. The effects of this will be far reaching in the power balance of Asia. Bold strategic moves on part of India. What can
China do to counter this?

China need not to do anything. The balance is already heavily tilted toward them.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

American jet Will be made in India. This is forgone. The question is when and in what numbers. This will surely boost Indian millitary industrial complex. The effects of this will be far reaching in the power balance of Asia. Bold strategic moves on part of India. What can
China do to counter this?

China to counter what? Full on privatization of the defence sector is happening. In a matter of couple of years we're seeing new armored manufacturing plants, arty assembly plants, aerospace plants, etc. coming up. I dont they're really concerned. But a MIC is brewing.

 

[DesiGuy1403]

China to counter what? Full on privatization of the defence sector is happening. In a matter of couple of years we're seeing new armored manufacturing plants, arty assembly plants, aerospace plants, etc. coming up. I dont they're really concerned. But a MIC is brewing.

It would be interesting to see the amount of direct employment and indirect employment this has generated for India.

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

China to counter what? Full on privatization of the defence sector is happening. In a matter of couple of years we're seeing new armored manufacturing plants, arty assembly plants, aerospace plants, etc. coming up. I dont they're really concerned. But a MIC is brewing.

You are perhaps quite right. The industrial off spins and other advantages are far huge than just jets. India might become a global hub in Western MIC. This will increase Indian political clout internationally. Goodluck!