F-16 production can make India fighter jet export hub: Lockheed

Eyeing India’s lucrative defence market, the American aerospace major said F-16 production would place India at the centre of the world’s largest fighter aircraft ecosystem, creating “unmatched” Make in India opportunities and export potential.

Vivek Lall, VP, Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin said F-16 Block 70 being proposed to India will be the most technologically advanced and capable F-16 fighter jet ever produced.

“F-16 exports could begin within five years of establishing production in India. Depending on when India makes its selection, more than 200 F-16s could be exported from India,” Lall said.

The F-16 Block 70, he said, brings the most modern avionics, a proven Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a modernised cockpit, advanced weapons, longer range with conformal fuel tanks, the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) and an advanced engine with an extended service life.

Block 70 mission systems are completely new and leverage technologies from the F-35. Northrop Grumman’s advanced APG-83 AESA radar on the F-16 Block 70 provides F-16s with 5th Generation fighter radar capabilities by leveraging hardware and software commonality with F-22 and F-35 AESA radars, he said in response to a question.

“F-16 production in India would indeed be exclusive something that has never before been presented by any other fighter aircraft manufacturer, past or present,” he said.

Noting that there are approximately 3,000 operational F-16s flying today with 25 leading air forces, including the US Air Force, he said the demand for new production of F-16s remains strong.

“Many air forces are actively engaging with Lockheed Martin about the prospect of procuring new F-16s. We see F-16 production opportunities totaling more than 400 aircraft, including aircraft for the Indian Air Force,” Lall said, adding the worldwide demand for F-16 sustainment- personnel, maintenance, fuel, consumables, spares, repairs, and operations- totals an estimated $165 billion over the next 30 years.