SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM
William L. Blair, Vice President & Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin India, recently highlighted a significant advantage that the F-21 fighter jet could offer to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender. The F-21, Lockheed Martin’s advanced version of the F-16V, is powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan engine. This engine, Blair noted, could provide an added edge due to the IAF’s existing familiarity with General Electric’s engines, specifically the F404 and F414 engines that power India’s Tejas Mk1A and MkII fighter jets.
Although the F110-GE-129 engine is not directly based on the F404 and F414 engines, Blair emphasized that the growing General Electric (GE) supply chain in India, which is being developed to maintain and support the F404 and F414 engines, will play a crucial role. This supply chain infrastructure will enable India to manage and maintain the F110-GE-129 engines more effectively within the country, reducing reliance on external support and enhancing operational efficiency.
This alignment with the existing engine platforms in the IAF’s inventory can provide logistical and maintenance synergies, streamlining the training process for Indian personnel and reducing long-term operational costs. With the supply chain for GE engines being established in India, the F-21 could potentially offer a smoother integration into the IAF’s fleet, leveraging existing expertise and infrastructure.
Lockheed Martin’s F-21 is one of the contender in the IAF’s MRFA tender, which seeks to procure 114 fighter jets to be manufactured in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The F-21 is designed specifically for India, offering advanced capabilities and performance enhancements over the previous iterations of the F-16. Lockheed Martin has emphasized that the F-21 will be produced in India in partnership with local industries, ensuring technology transfer and boosting the country’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
The MRFA tender is a key part of India’s efforts to modernize its air force and strengthen its defense capabilities. Lockheed Martin’s proposal for the F-21 includes not only the aircraft itself but also a comprehensive industrial package that aims to create jobs, stimulate local economies, and establish India as a global hub for fighter jet production.
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