By IANS
New Delhi : US defence and aerospace major Lockheed Martin is in the running to sell its F-16 multi-role combat aircraft to India and keenly awaits for signals from the government, a top official said Wednesday.
"We are waiting for the request for proposal from the Indian government for our F-16 medium range fighters," Ray O. Johnson, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Lockheed Martin, said.
"We are also keen on selling the P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft, the C-130J transport aircraft, the MH-60R helicopter, the PAC-3 missile defence systems," Johnson told IANS on the margins of an awards ceremony here.
The Defence Acquisition Committee had cleared the proposal for the purchase of 126 multi-role combat aircraft and F-16 is in the race along with rivals like Gripen of Sweden and Mirage of France, among others.
Johnson said his group was committed to long-term industrial collaboration with Indian companies and its broadbased technology would meet the requirements of the Indian defence and security establishments.
"The company can play an important role in the growing strategic relationship between India and the United States of America." said.
Asked whether he had met defence officials regarding the purchase of aircraft by the air force, Johnson said: "we are engaged in discussions with government and private companies and we are here to help our partnership progress."
Earlier, Johnson, along with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) presented the Lockheed Martin Innovation and Growth awards to 14 Indian companies out of 104 entries for the competition launched this year.
The aim of this programme is to accelerate innovative new Indian technologies into markets in the United States and around the world.
The winners will receive professional business development assistance and engage in a global business development effort led by the University of Texas at Austin and Ficci.
Of the 14 winners, four are from Bangalore while the others are from Coimbatore, Ghaziabad, Vadodara and Akola.
Johnson said the innovative growth programme was just one of the components of the numerous activities his company would develop for India in partnership with various institutions like Ficci.