Besides serving the US forces, Lockheed Martin is serving the security needs of defence forces across the world. At the backdrop of Farnborough Air Show 2010 in London, Ralph Heath, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin Corporation and President, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company spoke to SP’s Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal about the capabilities of the company.

Jayant Baranwal (SP’s): How do you perceive the trend of global market for military aviation?

Ralph Heath (Heath): Well, although there are some economic challenges to all nations, the one thing that is true is that nations around the world need to continue to have the capabilities and the technologies that allow them to maintain their national security. So we see that continuing and a very clear path ahead. We at Lockheed Martin are a committed part of the industry that will support all governments in meeting their needs.

SP’s: Which markets have been the rewarding markets for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and which markets need more efforts and why?

Heath: There are two aspects—geographic and product specific. To start with geographic, we have enjoyed success globally. Starting with the US, and then internationally, we have had substantial experience and success with both F-16 and C-130 for many decades. We are now embarking on the F-35, which is taking us to new levels of experience and opportunity. From the products that are made, our thrusts are combat aircraft and air mobility in both the tactical and strategic portions of that particular market. The combat aircraft we believe is the finest fourth generation aircraft around the world that we have seen is the F-16, which continues to modernise. The F-16 IN Super Viper that we offer to the IAF is the pre-eminent capability of any fourth generation fighter in the world and we are very confident that the information that supports that point is being recognised by the Indian government. We are also the only producer of the fifth generation aircraft—the F-22 and F-35. It is clear that all air forces will move towards fifth generation capabilities at the earliest opportunity. So we feel we are at a very important and strategic position because we are the only provider of the fifth generation aircraft in the world. The C-130 has enjoyed resurgences. The C-130J which the Indian Air Force has purchased has been developed in the last decade and has been demonstrating its phenomenal capability with latest technology incorporated in the propulsion and in the payload delivery systems. We are seeing very strong potential to continue to build C-130s for certainly at least another decade as nations recapitalise their fleets. That also happens with the United States Air Force. We modernised the C-5, the strategic airlifter. It is only employed by the US Air Force today but has amazing capability, certainly unparalleled in the world in terms of payload, having recently set 42 world records in payload to altitude It is very efficient set in operations, and has very modern, high efficiency engines and equipment. What is often not recognised is our involvement in unmanned aircraft. This is a strategic thrust, and when eventually the unmanned aircraft market emerges we believe we will be positioned quite well to be a key competitor in the market place.

SP’s: Which market has been the most rewarding across the globe for Lockheed Martin, following the merger of Lockheed Aeronautics Systems and Martin Marietta?

Heath: We have actually covered a number of those. Twentyfive nations have re-capitalised their combat fighter forces with the F-16, which started production 30 years ago and is still going. We are confident that we will continue seeing production of F-16 for quite some time. It is surpassing the expectations of many people, me included. It is a tribute to the continuous infusion of new technology so that it is modern. The F 16, a fourth generation fighter, continues to be a benchmark for air performance for combat air. The F-16 and C-130 have been our most successful markets after the merger. The C-130 is really a huge success story as the value proposition, a lot of this due to operations. Many air forces are flying the C-130J, the new model as compared to the legacy C-130s. The value, efficiency, range of payload performance is quite clear. The ability to fly at higher altitudes is also quite clear. That is why we believe we will continue to see very strong domain for C-130.

SP’s: Can you give a glimpse of which all programmes, innovations and upgrades have been introduced by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in the last 10-20 years as also the level of market share gained by them?

Heath: With regard to market share, I would simply say that we are a leading competitor in tactical aviation combat fighter market and among the leaders in air lift and feel that no one has the capability that is quite the same as the C-130. We have a significant market share. The statistics can be evaluated or considered in several ways, but suffice it to say we are a major player in both of those markets. In terms of innovations, some of the capabilities that we see in F-16IN are a very clear and dramatic example of the innovations that we have been able to incorporate in the existing platform. If we look at the fifth generation fighter, both F-22 and F-35, here we have brought together for the first time advanced low observability and what we call sensor fusion - in which many different electronic sensors are combined and integrated so that the pilot is presented with meaningful information for him to accomplish his mission. So he does not have to spend time interpreting the radar; he can simply perform the mission. The data is analysed and interpreted and presented to him in a very informative fashion. But even some of our older platforms which are still in operation, the U-2, in which we continue to incorporate advance capabilities and sensors, on behalf of the US government and that aircraft continues to perform around the globe. The C-5, as I had mentioned, has an integrated new glass cockpit and the incorporation of latest technologies and engines. Further, we are doing considerable research and development in our Skunk works in California, which has the heritage of technical innovations in aerospace developed in the last 60 years; and much of this is classified work. What I would say is that the creativity, innovation and resourcefulness of the Skunk Works is alive and we continue to achieve great success in developing the capabilities for the US and others nations.

SP’s What kind of an association you have in other markets?

Heath: We pride ourselves in two regards, one we have had the opportunity for sales and continuous support of our products, both fighter aircraft and air mobility airlift aircraft, throughout the world, including Asia, both Southeast Asia and South Asia. Second, we also had the opportunity to engage with various companies and other institutions in those nations to build what you call industrial strategic partnerships. Those have been very effective and we have built many over the past few decades. More recently, we have engaged in India. We have been actively engaged with the Indian government and specifically with industries and companies to develop similar industrial partnerships that we have experienced successfully around the world. We are moving to a new level and our company believes that India is a very important geographic region where lies our future. We are committed to building again very strong connections industrially. There would be mutual benefits, not just to our company but a two way flow, and we are working on this.

SP’s: Would you like to briefly outline the history of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics since its inception as also the company’s association with India and the Indian aerospace industry?

Heath: Getting back to 1948, the B-24 Liberator was one of the first heritage aircraft that Lockheed built that was operated by the Indian military, followed by the Super Constellation. Lockheed is one of the companies that emerged from the defense aerospace consolidation and became part of now what is known as Lockheed Martin. With regard to the civil aircraft, it is again the Super Constellation, which is both the basic and the supersonic configuration leading to the most air dynamically impressive aircraft when built, the Lockheed Tri-Star, which is now operated by Air India, way back in the 1941 vintage it was operated by Tata Airlines. There’s quite a history and we are building new history. We are proceeding with the C-130 programme which I am quite proud off and am looking forward to delivering the first aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

SP’s: Lockheed Martin is one of the frontrunners for the Indian MMRCA contract. What do you think about the stand and chances of winning the contract?

Heath: We don’t take anything for granted, but we believe that we have an excellent chance. The F-16 is certainly an ideal fit to meet the requirements of the IAF. We have tailored the configuration with F-16IN very specifically so that it matches exactly the capabilities that the IAF needs. We have had the opportunity to take the aircraft to perform in country trials for several weeks in India and other locations to demonstrate the specific capabilities. In our opinion, the F-16 performed quite well and was quite effective in demonstrating that it can meet or surpass all IAF requirements. We specifically designed this aircraft for the IAF and it is a very special and tailored capability that no one else in the world can surpass. We have actually demonstrated the aircraft, the physical aircraft flown by IAF pilot. They are the ones who conducted the test and they will have to confirm that this is a very fine aircraft and that will match their requirements. There are many other factors including the commercial proposals which include an extension at the request of the Indian government. We will be responsive to all requirements that are demanded within the commercial proposals. So we will see how it wends and we will continue supporting the Indian government in this evaluation. We would certainly want to be selected in this and we value the relationship with India very highly.

SP’s: There has been a debate for single engine fighters and double engine fighters. How do you address this fundamental issue?

Heath: This is no longer an issue in fighter aircraft because of the F-16 which has demonstrated a remarkable safety re-cord because of the durability and reliability of the engines in the F-16. The safety record of the aircraft is comparable to multi-engine aircraft. The reliability of the engine is no longer a consideration and a single engine provides an economic advantage that two engine aircraft do not have. This is the reason that with the next generation aircraft the same thing is holding true within the US; the F-35 is a single engine aircraft and has been selected by not just by the US Air Force but also the US Navy. The very components, the durability and reliability of engines, safety and performance of the aircraft is more of a function of pilot training and the air force safety practices. It has much less to do with specific safety of the aircraft. The F-16 is a preeminent example of being safely operated by pilots in all conditions.

SP’s: At what stage of the ongoing development and production programme could the F 35 be offered to India? Would this offer be irrespective of the outcome of the MMRCA deal?

Heath: We believe that all air forces will be making transitions to fifth generation aircraft at the earliest opportunity. It will be at different time with different air forces, depending on their specific threats and their fore structure recapitalisation. I obviously cannot speak for the governments. I certainly see the US government and the Indian government taking the appropriate discussions and decisions. What would happen in the future, I would not speculate on that. But I would be confident of that type of transition in the future. On MMRCA, there is an understanding that there is an immediate need to recapitalise the IAF. So we understand and respect the need and necessity for the IAF to recapitalise with the advanced fourth generation aircraft as soon as possible. We believe that the F-16 is the best choice for that. An added advantage of the F-16 is that because Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for both the F-35 and the F-16 that will lead to achieving long-term goals and transitioning from one generation to the next.