Monday, April 11, 2016

India set to approve manufacturing facility for US fighter jets

India is likely to approve the setting up of a manufacturing facility for the F-16 aircrafts or the F/A18 super hornet jet fighters early next week, top government sources have told DefenceAviationPost.

“Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will once again strike a tough bargain for India during the ongoing three day visit of the US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, a bargain that will see the country benefitng on both the economic and strategic front besides gaining immensely on the technical front…. setting up of a manufacturing line in India for either F-16 aircrafts or F/A18 super hornet jet fighters may be announced,” said a top Defence Ministry official.

Both the US fighter jet makers– Lockheed Martin and Boeing have expressed keen interest to set up manufacturing facilities for these two niche aircrafts in India in line with the Modi government’s “Make in India” initiative.

While the exact announcement on whether India will go for a F-16 or a F-18 facility will be known shortly, the Indian defence establishment has been keen to go for the twin-engine F/A 18 super hornets (Boeing) over the F-16 single engine aircrafts by Lockheed Martin after the indigenously developed Tejas light combat aircrafts.

US has been keen to strengthen defence ties with India as New Delhi prepares to dole out multi-billion defence contracts and Carter’s three day visit—which is second in less than a year – clearly signals the intent.
11/04/16 Anupama Airy/Defence Aviation Post

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline