(Bloomberg) -- Lockheed Martin Corp. said it will make wings for its F-16 warplane in India as the U.S. defense giant seeks to win the world’s largest fighter jet contract from the South Asian nation.
Lockheed will manufacture wings for all global F-16 customers at a facility in India in partnership with India’s Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., the Bethesda, Maryland-based company said in a statement. The jointly-managed facility will be based in Hyderabad and would form part of a planned F-16 manufacturing facility if India selects Lockheed’s jet for an outstanding 110-aircraft contract, company vice-president Vivek Lall said in New Delhi.
The U.S. defense firm, which is vying for a $15 billion warplane contract alongside Boeing Co. and Saab AB, had previously pledged to move the F-16 production line to India if Lockheed’s jet is picked by the Indian government.
The decision comes days ahead of a visit to India by U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who are scheduled to meet Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.
The decision to shift wing production will not impact U.S. jobs, Lall said, adding that it will take roughly two years for the new facility to develop manufacturing capabilities and become a certified supplier. Choosing Lockheed’s warplane would integrate India into a global F-16 supply chain worth $165 billion, Lall said.
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