Lockheed Martin, Tata Announce F-16 India Partnership - The India Saga

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Lockheed Martin, Tata Announce F-16 India Partnership

PARIS: Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited(TASL) signed a landmark agreement affirming the companies intent to join hands to…

Lockheed Martin, Tata Announce F-16 India Partnership

PARIS: Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited(TASL) signed a landmark agreement affirming the companies intent to join hands to produce the F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in India. 
The F-16 Block 70 is ideally suited to meet the Indian Air ForceÂs single engine fighter needs and this unmatched U.S.-Indian industry partnership directly supports IndiaÂs initiative to develop private aerospace and defense manufacturing capacity in India. The agreement comes days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the U.S. later this month during which he will have a meeting with the U.S. President Donald Trump. 
This unprecedented F-16 production partnership between the worldÂs largest defense contractor and IndiaÂs premier industrial house provides India the opportunity to produce, operate and export F-16 Block 70 aircraft, the newest and most advanced version of the worldÂs most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter.
F-16 production in India supports thousands of Lockheed Martin and F-16 supplier jobs in the U.S., creates new manufacturing jobs in India, and positions Indian industry at the center of the most extensive fighter aircraft supply ecosystem in the world.
ÂThis agreement builds on the already established joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Tata and underscores the relationship and commitment between the two companies, said N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons. 
ÂLockheed Martin is honored to partner with Indian defense and aerospace leader Tata Advanced Systems Limited on the F-16 program, said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. ÂOur partnership significantly strengthens the F-16 ÂMake in India offer, creates and maintains numerous new job opportunities in India and the U.S., and brings the worldÂs most combat-proven multi-role fighter aircraft to India.Â
The Lockheed Martin-TASL F-16 partnering agreement builds on TASLÂs proven performance manufacturing airframe components for the C-130J airlifter and the S-92 helicopter.
With more than 4,500 produced and approximately 3,200 operational aircraft worldwide being flown today by 26 countries, the F-16 remains the worldÂs most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter ever produced. The F-16 Block 70 is the newest and most technologically advancedF-16 ever offered.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company which is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
Tata Advanced Systems Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, focused on providing integrated solutions for Aerospace, Defence and Homeland Security. In a short span of five years, Tata Advanced Systems Limited has become a significant player in the global aerospace market, becoming the premier manufacturing partner for global OEMs, including Boeing, Airbus Group. 

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