Tata Group and American aerospace giant Lockheed Martin have signed an unprecedented deal to produce, operate and export the combat-proven F-16 fighters in India.According to the deal signed on Monay, Lockheed will shift its Fort Worth, Texas plant to India without directly affecting American jobs, a campaign pledge of Trump who has vowed to put America First.
Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics said, their partnership significantly strengthens the F-16 ‘Make In India’ offer, creates and maintains numerous new job opportunities in India and the US, and brings the world’s most combat-proven multi-role fighter aircraft to India.
The deal announced during the Paris Air show between Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, TASL, and Lockheed Martin is ideally suited to meet Indian Air Force’s single-engine fighter needs.
The deal is boosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ plan ahead of his first summit with US President Donald Trump.