Lockheed Martin offers the F-35 to India

American military aviation major Lockheed Martin has offered India its state-of-the-art, fifth generation, stealth-capable fighter aircraft, the F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter. The company, which is in the running for India's offer to buy 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA), is trying to further sweeten the deal, having offered the F-16 for the contract.

Last week, top executives from Lockheed Martin met officials from India's Ministry of Defence and told them that the US government had agreed to make the F-35 Lightening-II available for the IAF's 5th generation fighter contract. Lockheed Martin's Vice President for Business Development Rob Weiss said after the meeting that the F-35 would be in the reckoning much beyond the induction of the 126 MRCA planes, as the country's security experts have been struggling to find partners to develop futuristic 5th generation fighters.

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more @ www.domain-b.com...

Well, this move seems like it is indended to thwart the Russian 5th gen fighter programme by offering India an "off the counter" jet as an alternative to the joint investment/development Russian 5th gen fighter project (timesofindia.indiatimes.com...)

Technology Transfer, however is difficult to expect considering it had been denied to the UK not very long ago.

Mod Edit: Trimmed down quoted material

[edit on 7/15/08 by FredT]

`Technology Transfer` is the watchword here - the IAF want to build there own and modify them as they want - the more you put blocks in the way the less chance you have to sell.

` you can have the toys but no way are you changing what we sell you`


hmmmm why do i have a gut feeling that the F35B won`t be coming to the UK.....

This is actually a brilliant move by the US government. It could strengthen ties with India while moving India's attention away from PAK FA. Not a bad idea!

Harlequin, The F-35B is coming to the UK, the tech transfer argument was resolved to the UK's satisfaction several months ago.

Originally posted by waynos
Harlequin, The F-35B is coming to the UK, the tech transfer argument was resolved to the UK's satisfaction several months ago.

Im still a bit peeved off about that...

Originally posted by West Coast

Originally posted by waynos
Harlequin, The F-35B is coming to the UK, the tech transfer argument was resolved to the UK's satisfaction several months ago.

Im still a bit peeved off about that...

the british people are still peeved off about americans having cold war bases set-up in our country, i reckon britain should request a few british bases be set in the US and see what kinda reaction that would get from the US govenment and people.

Originally posted by Sepiroth

Originally posted by West Coast

Originally posted by waynos
Harlequin, The F-35B is coming to the UK, the tech transfer argument was resolved to the UK's satisfaction several months ago.

Im still a bit peeved off about that...

the british people are still peeved off about americans having cold war bases set-up in our country, i reckon britain should request a few british bases be set in the US and see what kinda reaction that would get from the US govenment and people.

But who needs who more here? And did it piss you ppl off when the Iron Curtain was still alive and kicking, thus the reason for those bases existent in the first place?

You have to love business... Lockheed is really trying to out due themselves with this one. Trying to seed the idea that a possible future contract (after the impending one) might involve the F-35 (even co-development) in order to strengthen the position of the F-16 in the current on going program, genius. 'Get in out good graces and we will talk about the F-35 later'. Even though we have to run it by congress, the state department, the pentagon and then work out the technology transfer issues. Come on, I know the Indians are smarter...

Oh you never know!

www.domain-b.com... ?

That sounds like a web hosting website.

Hmmm i personally believe india needs to get themselves a proper arms industry. Would ofcourse serve theire needs better and it would stimulate the economy.

reply to post by BlackWidow23


It's not going to drop away it;s attention from the PAK-FA!