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Bangalore: Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata on Thursday soared to new heights literally when he took off in a multi-role combat aircraft F-16 at the airshow here. Tata, 69, undertook the flight in co-pilot's seat which was commandeered by Paul Hattendorf, the test pilot of Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the aircraft. The jet belongs to Bloc 50 of the US Air Force. F-16, also known as Fighting Falcon, is in the race for Indian Air Force's mega plans of acquiring 126 multi-role combat aircraft. Lockheed has been lobbying hard to sell its jet to India. With this, Tata has now become the oldest Indian to fly the American-made aircraft. Tata, who holds a pilot's licence, had said the thought of the F-16 flight "excites me very much."
08/02/07 Times of India
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08/02/07 Times of India
Labels: F16, Lockheed Martin, Tata, US
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New Delhi: After sealing the $12-billion jumbo deal to buy Anglo-Dutch steel-maker Corus, Tata group chairman Ratan Tata is set to pull off another surprise by flying a fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bangalore Feb 7-11.
The 69-year-old trained pilot will fly Lockheed Martin's F-16 multi-role combat aircraft during the show that the Bethesda, Maryland-based defence and aerospace major will feature. It proposes to sell 126 of them to the Indian Air Force.
'Lockheed Martin officials are handling this matter. The finer details of when, where and what is being finalised,' a Tata official told IANS, confirming the proposed sortie on an F-16 by the group's chairperson who enjoys flying.
'I don't get much spare time, but what little spare time I have is spent flying. I am a trained pilot for both planes and helicopters,' Tata has been quoted as saying in an interview posted on the group's Web site
According to defence industry sources, Lockheed Martin has also been in talks with the Tatas and the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics to outsource components manufacture for the aircraft.
04/02/07 India PRwire (Press Release)
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The 69-year-old trained pilot will fly Lockheed Martin's F-16 multi-role combat aircraft during the show that the Bethesda, Maryland-based defence and aerospace major will feature. It proposes to sell 126 of them to the Indian Air Force.
'Lockheed Martin officials are handling this matter. The finer details of when, where and what is being finalised,' a Tata official told IANS, confirming the proposed sortie on an F-16 by the group's chairperson who enjoys flying.
'I don't get much spare time, but what little spare time I have is spent flying. I am a trained pilot for both planes and helicopters,' Tata has been quoted as saying in an interview posted on the group's Web site
According to defence industry sources, Lockheed Martin has also been in talks with the Tatas and the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics to outsource components manufacture for the aircraft.
04/02/07 India PRwire (Press Release)
Labels: Defense, F16, Fighters, Lockheed Martin, Tata, US
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New Delhi: As India and the US enhance their defence ties, 20-odd American defence behemoths will display their cutting-edge fighter jets and weaponry at India's biggest air show in Bangalore Feb 7.
'There's going to be a major contingent from the US defence industry,' US ambassador to India David C. Mulford told reporters here Thursday.
'There will be more people, more technology and more things on display,' the envoy said while alluding to three F-16s, two F-18s and a PC3 Orion the US defence majors will be displaying at the five-day show at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, on the outskirts of Bangalore.
The show will provide US companies an opportunity to showcase their competitive edge as they compete with Russian, Swedish and French companies for an Indian Air Force tender for 126 fighter aircraft.
Official delegations from over 40 countries, as also business representatives of corporations will be attending.
01/02/07 Monsters and Critics.com, UK
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'There's going to be a major contingent from the US defence industry,' US ambassador to India David C. Mulford told reporters here Thursday.
'There will be more people, more technology and more things on display,' the envoy said while alluding to three F-16s, two F-18s and a PC3 Orion the US defence majors will be displaying at the five-day show at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, on the outskirts of Bangalore.
The show will provide US companies an opportunity to showcase their competitive edge as they compete with Russian, Swedish and French companies for an Indian Air Force tender for 126 fighter aircraft.
Official delegations from over 40 countries, as also business representatives of corporations will be attending.
01/02/07 Monsters and Critics.com, UK
Labels: Defense, F16, F18, Fighters, PC3, US
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New Delhi: US aerospace major Lockheed Martin is aggressively pitching its F-16 fighter for an Indian Air Force - order, terming it 'the most successful international combat aircraft programme in history', even as it will display an array of aircraft and equipment at the upcoming Aero India 2007 show.
The other aircraft showcased at the Feb 7-11 show at Bangalore will be the C-130J Super Hercules, the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft and the MH-60R maritime-dominance helicopter.
Also featured will be the Patriot PAC-3 missile defence system, the ship-mounted Littoral Combat Solution - system, and the MK-41 vertical launching system - for firing missiles at sea.
'Most of these products have potential to support the growing strategic military relationship between the India and the United States,' a Lockheed Martin statement said.
The company's focus, however, is clearly on the F-16 as it eyes a soon-to-be-floated tender for 126 multi role combat aircraft - to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-built MiG-21 jets.
The IAF had, in 2004, sent out a Request for Information - for four jets - the F-16, the Russian MiG-29M/M2, the French Mirage 2000-5, and the Swedish JAS-39 Grippen.
28/01/07 IANS/RxPG NEWS, US
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The other aircraft showcased at the Feb 7-11 show at Bangalore will be the C-130J Super Hercules, the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft and the MH-60R maritime-dominance helicopter.
Also featured will be the Patriot PAC-3 missile defence system, the ship-mounted Littoral Combat Solution - system, and the MK-41 vertical launching system - for firing missiles at sea.
'Most of these products have potential to support the growing strategic military relationship between the India and the United States,' a Lockheed Martin statement said.
The company's focus, however, is clearly on the F-16 as it eyes a soon-to-be-floated tender for 126 multi role combat aircraft - to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-built MiG-21 jets.
The IAF had, in 2004, sent out a Request for Information - for four jets - the F-16, the Russian MiG-29M/M2, the French Mirage 2000-5, and the Swedish JAS-39 Grippen.
28/01/07 IANS/RxPG NEWS, US
Labels: C-130J, Defense, F16, Fighters, Lockheed Martin, PC3, US
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Washington: A sales and marketing dogfight between American fighter jets F-18 Super Hornets and the much-ballyhooed F-16s will be just one of the star attractions in the Aero India 2007, which will be held in Bangalore from February 7-11.
Both Boeing, which makes the F-18, and Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-16, are flying down their machines and men for the Bangalore show, the first time that Americans are turning up in strength after the Aero India began in 1996.
Reason: The Bush administration has given the green signal for US arms merchants that India is no more out of bounds.
Besides two F-18 Super Hornets, Boeing will also be sending a giant C-17 transport aircraft and Chinook heavy-lift choppers for the show, a senior Boeing official said.
While one of the F-18s will be on display, the other one will be put through the paces at the show by Boeing's chief test pilot Ricardo Traven, who is flying down to Bangalore for the show.
The American jets will have to contend with three other international competitors who are lining up to bid for the 126-aircraft deal that the Indian Air Force is expected to call for shortly, one of the single largest fighter plane contracts in the history of aviation, worth a massive $7 billion at least.
Also in the race, Sweden's Grippen and Russian advanced MiGs. The prospective deal has been the talk of military aviation circles for several months now.
18/01/07 Times of India
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Both Boeing, which makes the F-18, and Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-16, are flying down their machines and men for the Bangalore show, the first time that Americans are turning up in strength after the Aero India began in 1996.
Reason: The Bush administration has given the green signal for US arms merchants that India is no more out of bounds.
Besides two F-18 Super Hornets, Boeing will also be sending a giant C-17 transport aircraft and Chinook heavy-lift choppers for the show, a senior Boeing official said.
While one of the F-18s will be on display, the other one will be put through the paces at the show by Boeing's chief test pilot Ricardo Traven, who is flying down to Bangalore for the show.
The American jets will have to contend with three other international competitors who are lining up to bid for the 126-aircraft deal that the Indian Air Force is expected to call for shortly, one of the single largest fighter plane contracts in the history of aviation, worth a massive $7 billion at least.
Also in the race, Sweden's Grippen and Russian advanced MiGs. The prospective deal has been the talk of military aviation circles for several months now.
18/01/07 Times of India
Labels: Defense, F16, F18, Fighters, US
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