Lockheed sees potential exports of 200 F-16 jets from proposed Indian plant
US defence firm estimates market is worth $20bn as it plans to make the country the sole global production centre for the aircraft in a bid to win a large military order
New Delhi — Lockheed Martin sees a potential export market of more than $20bn for its F-16 fighter aircraft from an assembly line in India it has offered to set up in order to win a large Indian military order, a top executive says. The US defence firm is competing with Boeing’s F/A-18, Saab’s Gripen, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and a Russian aircraft to supply the Indian air force with 114 combat planes in a deal estimated to be worth more than $15bn. Lockheed Martin has offered to shift its F-16 production line from the US to India, potentially the biggest boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make-in-India project to create a defence industrial base and generate jobs for the thousands of youth entering the workforce each month. Vivek Lall, the vice-president of strategy and business development at Lockheed, said the firm would make India the sole global production centre for the F-16 that would meet the requirements for the Indian military but also over...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.