The Trump administration is taking a "fresh look" at Lockheed Martin's proposal to have a F-16 manufacturing base in India if it agrees to buy the fighter jets, Barry McCullough, the vice president of business strategy (mission systems and sensors) at the U.S. defence giant said.
"For several months, we've been working with President Trump's transition and governance teams and leaders in Congress providing information on our many programmes and potential business opportunities—including the proposed sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to India," he said.
Lockheed, which is one of the top global manufacturers of fighter jets, said that its officials have briefed the Trump administration on the current proposal, which was supported by the Obama administration as part of a broader cooperative dialogue with the Government of India.
In August, Lockheed had offered to move its lone production line of the latest version of F 16-Block 70 to India from Texas to meet Indian and global requirement.
"We understand that the Trump administration will want to take a fresh look at some of these programmes and we stand prepared to support that effort to ensure that any deal of this importance is properly aligned with U.S. policy priorities," McCullough said.
Ultimately, the configuration of any F-16 sale to India will be determined by government to government discussions, he noted referring to the fact that all major defence sales need approval of the U.S. government.
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