NEW DELHI, 28 March 2005 — Within a few days of having protested against the sale of US F-16s to Pakistan, India is weighing options of buying the same. US aviation manufacturer Lockheed Martin is ready to build “exclusive” F-16s for the Indian Air Force, far superior to any existing fighters in service anywhere in the world.
Lockheed’s senior executive Mike Kelly told a news agency: “If India’s requirements are beyond any existing fighters, we are prepared to make upgraded F-16s to India’s specifications with complete transfer of technology.” The comments assume significance in the context of US administration’s decision to clear sales of high-technology fighters to India and Pakistan.
Lockheed is currently manufacturing F-16s, also known as fighting falcons, in two versions. While block 50-52 was being supplied to US and European air forces, the block 60 was developed exclusively for United Arab Emirates. “We are ready to develop new block 70 for the Indian Air Force,” Kelly said.
If the F-16 deal comes through, it would be concluded as a government-to-government deal under the FMS system, which would enable delivery of fighters on fast track basis. Under the $6 million to $7 million deal, there would be a supply of 18 aircraft in flyaway conditions. Under technology transfer, 108 would be assembled in India.
Along with the sale of the fighters, Washington may also allow the sale of entire array of weapons platform mounted on it, including beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and 100 km standoff ground target engaging missiles.
India’s air force is currently dependent on aging Russian planes. The fleet of Russian MiG-21 fighter jets — dating back to 1960s — is the backbone of Indian fighting inventory. Since the breakup of the former Soviet Union, India has begun diversifying its sources of weaponry. Currently, it also has the French Mirage and Anglo-French Jaguar planes.
The United States has also cleared the ground for American aviation giant Boeing to bid for India’s plans to acquire 126 multirole combat aircraft. The other big competitors are the Dassault, the makers of French Mirage fighters, Swedish Grippen and the Russians.
With the F-16s carrying a broad range of weapons of American, European and Israeli make, under the sales option, it would be up to New Delhi to go in for any choice. The Falcons in their air-to-air combat role carry American-made Mamram AIM-120 Beyond Visual Range missiles as well as French Mica BVRs.
Besides, in the short-range combat role, the US fighters carry the latest generation of heat-seeking missiles AMI-9X and the latest version of the famous Sidewinder missiles carried by the Pakistani F-16s. Other versions of the aircraft carry IRS-T, the European equivalent of the Sidewinder and the Israeli-made Python missiles.
In the air-to-ground role, the F-16s field precision-guided weapons like laser guided bombs, GPS guided bombs and standoff missiles capable of destroying targets almost 100 kilometers away.
The total US package, Lockheed officials said would include provisions for product support and training of personnel. Under the program being worked out, 24 Indian pilots would be trained in the US on F-16s and 50-60 personnel for maintenance purposes.
Regarding the sale of P3C Orion long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft to the navy, the ongoing negotiations are likely to be finalized by the year-end as a deal, Lockheed officials said.
Under the deal, the US Defense Department would supply 10 aircraft, eight for flying use and two as spare. The US company would be involved in the upgradation of the spy planes, Kelly said.
