Lockheed Martin’s Regional Chief Executive Officer of India and Asia, William Blair, said the company has been actively participating in global bids, bringing 114 fighter jets and 80 Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft. He said he is actively involved in manufacturing. Procured from an Indian vendor. The 114-JET program is different from the existing orders placed by the Ministry of Defense with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Working on Lockheed Martin’s plans for fighter jet production in India, Blair highlighted the company’s existing operations. “We’ve already “made in India.” “The wings of the F-16, which belong to the same family as the F-21, are manufactured at the Tata-Lockheed Martin facility in Hyderabad,” he said. Lockheed Martin has provided the F-21 jet to India as part of the bid for the 114 Fighter bid.
Regarding the company’s offering of C-130J media transport aircraft for the IAF, Blair pointed out that Lockheed Martin is already producing the presence (tail section) that exist on Indian aircraft. He also revealed that the C-130J’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility is being installed in Bengaluru. “If we look at the requirements for the 80 transport, we are leaning on this opportunity to make it in India,” he added.
Lockheed Martin, who sold the first batch of C-130J aircraft to the IAF over a decade ago, is currently competing with Airbus and Brazilian manufacturer Embraer for a new 80-sided bid.
On the subject of the Javelin Anti-Tank missile, Blair pointed out that Lockheed Martin had successfully demonstrated the missile’s capabilities in high-altitude regions. “We are working with Bharat Dynamics Limited, working on India’s comprehensive supply chain to meet the requirements of “Indian Make-up,”” he said.
When asked whether Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter would be offered to India, Blair postponed the decision to policymakers. “That’s because the government is debating. We support incredible international programs around the world,” he said.
The F-35 and Russian Sukhoi Su-57 are both cutting-edge fifth-generation fighter jets and one of Aero India’s star attractions, attracting great attention from defense personnel and aviation enthusiasts .
