Joanna Crews
Vivek Lall, Lockheed Martin‘s vice president of strategy and business development, told the Press Trust of India in an interview published Wednesday that the global market for the sustainment of F-16s would amount to around $165 billion through the next 30 years.
“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 in the interview.
Lall announced in March the company’s plans to establish an exclusive F-16 production line in India that will support the Make in India program.
India could commence the export of more than 200 F-16s within five years of the establishment of a production facility, he told PTI.
He added that the company has spoken with around 100 businesses in India and with their existing global F-16 suppliers on potential opportunities to support the fighter jet.
“We are looking to establish enduring relationships with Indian industry — win-win partnerships that will strengthen India’s and America’s economy and India-US strategic ties for the next half-century and beyond,” Lall said.
