Lockheed Martin denies offering India fifth-generation F-35 fighter
January 27, 2018  09:28
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Lockheed Martin, the US aerospace giant, rebutted a report that was widely published in the Indian media, that it had offered the state-of-the-art F-35 Lightning II fighter to the country. The F-35, a fifth-generation fighter, that is only now entering service in significant numbers, is superior to the F-16 Block 70 fighter that Lockheed Martin is offering India in its proposed purchase of an estimated 100 single-engine fighters.


But, Lockheed Martin spokesperson, Michael Friedman, stated: The article referencing F-35 production in India was misreported and incorrect. The conversation was in regards to F-16 production.

Further, DefenseNews magazine, quoted an Indian defence ministry official as stating: There is no such plan, and no official proposal has come from US government and Lockheed Martin to produce F-35s in India in the future.

The earlier report, originating from PTI and carried by several Indian newspapers, stated: Lockheed Martin has proposed to manufacture custom-built F-35 fighter jets in India, which its officials say will give Indian industry a unique opportunity to become part of the worlds largest fighter aircraft ecosystem. The confusion stemmed from a long-running marketing effort by Lockheed Martin to burnish the older F-16 Block 70 by suggesting that it containes many advanced technologies developed for the firms two most advanced fighter aircraft the F-22 Raptor and the F-35.

-- Ajai Shukla/Business Standard
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