Saturday, February 14, 2009
American defence major Lockheed Martin (LM) has been putting up its best show at the ongoing air show at the Yelahanka air base, hoping the Indian defence sector will lap up its products.
Among other attention-grabbing engagements were Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, who flew the F-16N Super Viper advanced fourth generation combat aircraft, one of the star attractions at the air show that concludes this Sunday. Other products from the LM labs include the C-130J Hercules airlifter (where media has been taken for a short plane ride on Thursday and Friday) and air and missile defence systems.
Orville Prins, vice president of business development (India), said the F-16 that sparkled over the Bangalore blue skies is tailored to meet or exceed India's Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirements. "The Super Viper is ready for integration into India's infrastructure and operations now," he added, hoping to grab a share of India's mighty $12 billion budget for buying nearly 100-odd fighter aircraft. The LM official said that 24 nations have chosen the F-16 as their front-line multi-role fighter with 52 follow-on buys making it one the most successful multi-role fighter aircraft programmes.
The Americans are happy that the Indian Air Force has selected the C-130J airlifter, with six aircraft to be delivered beginning in 2011. The IAF's new Super Hercules will be the longer fuselage or "stretched" variant of the C-130J just like the ones given to US Air Force. This airlifter can carry in technical terms eight 463L pallets, 97 medical litters, 24 CDS bundles, 128 combat troops and 92 paratroops.
13/02/09 Stephen David/India Today
Among other attention-grabbing engagements were Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, who flew the F-16N Super Viper advanced fourth generation combat aircraft, one of the star attractions at the air show that concludes this Sunday. Other products from the LM labs include the C-130J Hercules airlifter (where media has been taken for a short plane ride on Thursday and Friday) and air and missile defence systems.
Orville Prins, vice president of business development (India), said the F-16 that sparkled over the Bangalore blue skies is tailored to meet or exceed India's Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirements. "The Super Viper is ready for integration into India's infrastructure and operations now," he added, hoping to grab a share of India's mighty $12 billion budget for buying nearly 100-odd fighter aircraft. The LM official said that 24 nations have chosen the F-16 as their front-line multi-role fighter with 52 follow-on buys making it one the most successful multi-role fighter aircraft programmes.
The Americans are happy that the Indian Air Force has selected the C-130J airlifter, with six aircraft to be delivered beginning in 2011. The IAF's new Super Hercules will be the longer fuselage or "stretched" variant of the C-130J just like the ones given to US Air Force. This airlifter can carry in technical terms eight 463L pallets, 97 medical litters, 24 CDS bundles, 128 combat troops and 92 paratroops.
13/02/09 Stephen David/India Today
Labels: Defense, Lockheed Martin, USA
To read the news in full | PermaLink
