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Lockheed Martin hardsells customized F-16's to Air Force
Dated 21/8/2006
Premier global defence contractor Lockheed Martin (LM) will pitch customisation as a strong point during its bid to sell F-16 multi-role fighters to the Indian Air Force.
After announcing an aerospace and defence supplier conference to be organised by LM in Bangalore, LM's Vice-President (Business Development - India) Orville Prins told reporters on Saturday that the bid would incorporate IAF's specific requirements.
"We have been designing the fighters to suit individual airforces. We'll know the IAF requirements under its MRCA (Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) programme and go for a tailored design" he said. LM's plan -- to sell 126 F-16s under IAF's MRCA programme -- is awaiting the Ministry of Defence's Request for Proposal (RFP).
Asked about LM's F-16 deal with Pakistan, Mr Prins said: "The world over, 24 countries have associated with us on sale of F-16s. Pakistan is just one of those 24." Mr Prins said LM was not taking the competitors for the MRCA deal for granted. Russia's MiG-35, Boeing's F/A 18 and Swedish JAS 30 Gripen are among the six players in the fray.
"The RfP will depend on the technical and commercial proposals, the degree of collaboration we can have with HAL and the government-level ties between India and the US," Mr Prins added. The deal, once approved, will involve a transfer of technology and subsequent production of aircraft by HAL.
The two-day conference being organised by Lockheed Martin, on August 21 and 22 in Bangalore, has been planned to establish commercial ties between LM's current supplier team and Indian companies. Around 50 Indian companies, including HAL, TCS, Verdant and ITC Infotech, are likely to be represented.
http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2384
The requirements for India are to take out Pakistani F-16s, so if they offer india F-16's then they will be tailored to counter what they're selling to Pakistan.
Dated 21/8/2006
Premier global defence contractor Lockheed Martin (LM) will pitch customisation as a strong point during its bid to sell F-16 multi-role fighters to the Indian Air Force.
After announcing an aerospace and defence supplier conference to be organised by LM in Bangalore, LM's Vice-President (Business Development - India) Orville Prins told reporters on Saturday that the bid would incorporate IAF's specific requirements.
"We have been designing the fighters to suit individual airforces. We'll know the IAF requirements under its MRCA (Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) programme and go for a tailored design" he said. LM's plan -- to sell 126 F-16s under IAF's MRCA programme -- is awaiting the Ministry of Defence's Request for Proposal (RFP).
Asked about LM's F-16 deal with Pakistan, Mr Prins said: "The world over, 24 countries have associated with us on sale of F-16s. Pakistan is just one of those 24." Mr Prins said LM was not taking the competitors for the MRCA deal for granted. Russia's MiG-35, Boeing's F/A 18 and Swedish JAS 30 Gripen are among the six players in the fray.
"The RfP will depend on the technical and commercial proposals, the degree of collaboration we can have with HAL and the government-level ties between India and the US," Mr Prins added. The deal, once approved, will involve a transfer of technology and subsequent production of aircraft by HAL.
The two-day conference being organised by Lockheed Martin, on August 21 and 22 in Bangalore, has been planned to establish commercial ties between LM's current supplier team and Indian companies. Around 50 Indian companies, including HAL, TCS, Verdant and ITC Infotech, are likely to be represented.
http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2384
The requirements for India are to take out Pakistani F-16s, so if they offer india F-16's then they will be tailored to counter what they're selling to Pakistan.
