LOCKHEED EYES PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA

Washington, Feb. 5: Eyeing a greater pie in India's massive military modernisation, a top American defence manufacturing company has said it has proposed a “game- changing” partnership with India.

“Lockheed Martin is committed to strategic, long- term international defense partnerships with India. India has a pressing need for advanced, scalable defense capabilities,” Vivek Lall, vice president, Aeronautics Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin said. Lockheed Martin is “proposing game- changing defense partnerships that benefit multiple stakeholders” not only in India, but also in the US and beyond, he said on Monday.

“We believe our proposed partnerships with India fighter aircraft - for new fighter aircraft, helicopters and other platforms are ideally suited to not just meet, but exceed India's capability and defense- industrial needs in the nearterm and well into the future,” he said. Lall asserted the company had demonstrated this commitment by announcing last Sept. that it will partner with Tata to produce F- 16 wings in India.

“We're also engaging with numerous others in India, the US and beyond to unleash the power of partnership and Indian innovation. We're very excited about all of the potential we see in India,” he said.

Lockheed Martin is also planning to participate in Indian Navy's move to acquire 111 utility helicopters. – PTI