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The US aerospace major Lockheed Martin Corporation claims that the F-16 IN offered to the Indian Air Force under the medium muti role combat aircraft (MMRCA) programme is reliable, safe and cost-effective. But besides keeping its fingers crossed for the MMRCA deal, the company is also looking forward to sell its F-35C, the fifth generation carrier aircraft, to the Indian Navy. “The Indian Navy has asked for a request for proposal (RFP) for F-35C,” said Orville Prins, Vice President, Business Development-India, Lockheed Martin.
Addressing a press conference on October 28 in New Delhi, Michael R. Griswold, Director, Advanced Development Programme, Lockheed Martin said that the fighter plane custom made for India is a step ahead of the F-16 series produced by the Company. “The advanced version of the F-16 has been designed after long discussions between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Lockheed Martin,” said he and added that it is apt for IAF requirements.
Griswold said that F-16 has a long history of operations and is a proven fifth generation fighter with active electronically scanned radar Northrop Grumman APG-80), net centric warfare capability, advanced survivability features, enhanced high thrust engine (General Electric F110-132A), large weapon inventory, all-digital glass cockpit, etc.
Explaining the advantages of a single engine aircraft as in F-16 IN, he said that a transition from double engine to single engine aircraft can be seen in many countries today. Except the safety aspect which is at par with a double engine aircraft, a single engine aircraft is better in all other aspects like life cycle cost, acquisition cost, survivability, physical size, logistics, etc.
The official said that the F-16 has evolved from Block 30 manufactured in 1985, which transitioned to Block 50 in 1990 and F-16IN in 2003 and indicated that it is not the end of the road as the company will bring in many more innovations and technological developments in the years to come. “The F-16’s architecture itself enables growth and has the most powerful engine for MMRCA,” said Griswold.
The F-16 is now operational in 24 countries and a recent order has been made from Oman, informed the officials.
