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Lockheed to fly F16 at airshow, mulls outsourcing tie-ups

Mumbai, Dec 10 (UNI)

US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, which is pitching for a 10 billion dollar mega deal from Indian Air Force, will for the first time let its advanced fighter jet F-16 participate in a flying display at the coming Indian air show.

 ‘‘Yes... we will be bringing the F-16s for AeroIndia (2007) and of course, this time we are here for flying,’’ Lockheed Martin Global Inc Managing Director Royce L Kaplinger said.

 The company aims to impress the top Indian defence personnel at the airshow to win a USD 10 billion fighter jet deal from the IAF. The airshow will be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bangalore in the first week of February.

 During the last edition of the Indian aero exposition, Lockheed’s rival Boeing flew its F-18 fighters, which is also in the race for the multi-billion dollar contract.

 Lockheed Martin also plans to sell its maritime patrol aircraft P3C Orion and MH16 Romeo submarine hunting helicopters to Indian Navy, besides bidding for a cargo airplane deal to sell its C130 J Hercules.