Lockheed Martin offers 5 programmes to India to meet defence needs

Bangalore, Feb 9 (UNI) Defence multinational Lockheed Martin today offered India five defence projects, including its F-16 multirole combat aircraft and missile systems to meet current and anticipated defence and security requirements with superior effectiveness and affordability.

The other projects were P-3C Maritime Surveillance Aircraft, C-130J tactical airlifter, MH-60R multi-role helicopter and PAC-3 air and missile defence system.

These projects, if implemented, would involve an investment of around US Dollar ten to 15 billion in the next one decade, Company Business Vice-President in India Orville Prins told newspersons at the Aero India show here.

He said the offset policy of the Indian Government would be followed while implementing the projects. Though the offset policy was restrictive in nature with the imports directed towards defence sector only, ''we believe we can help India meet its most challenging defence and security goals because we can see the big picture and understand how important those goals are to the development of India's future,'' he remarked.

Mr Prins said 4,300 F-16 fighters, the world's premier multi-role fighter, had been delivered to 24 nations. It was highly supportable and maintainable and would continue to receive upgrades for many years to come as technology advanced, he added.

MH-60R Business Development Manager Cathy Hrustich said India was the first country outside the US to be offered the US Navy's newest and most capable multi-mission helicopter. Presently, the Indian Government was evaluating the Request for Proposal sent by the US Government. The MH-60R was a proven, low risk solution that would enable the Indian Navy to leverage the US Navy's US Dollar 700 million investment in mission systems and pre-planned product improvements through 2015. All users of the new platform would be taking advantage of the US Navy's considerable investment in both the airframe and the major integration of its new mission systems that would remain relevant through the middle of the century, she assured.

Business Development Director for Maritime Surveillance Michael Meyer, who was also present, said the P-3C Orion remained the worldwide platform of choice for proven surveillance, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capabillities. P-3C Orion was a proven, low risk solution for the Indian Navy's Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare programme which met both near term and long term Indian surveillance needs, he added.

UNI