Scott Nicholas
Lockheed Martin has proposed to transfer all production of the company’s F-16 fighter jet from its Fort Worth, Texas aeronautics facility to India in an effort to fulfill up to $15 billion in exports, Economic Times reported Thursday.
Manu Pubby writes the U.S. government supports the Lockheed proposal to set up the F-16 line in India under a technology transfer agreement to help meet the requirements of the country’s air force.
“We want to make India the sole producer of all future variants of the F-16… This is an offer we have never made to anyone before,” says George Standridge, Lockheed vice president of aeronautics strategy and business development.
The report added Lockheed looks to export at least 100 of its Block 70 F-16 jets to customers in Europe and Asia.
India’s defense ministry has met with Lockheed and Boeing officials in April to discuss the possible production of the F-16 and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft in the country.
