New Delhi -- U.S. fighter jet maker Lockheed Martin reportedly wants to win India's $10 billion deal for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft with its F-16IN version.
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Lockheed submitted a bid for the MMRCA contract Monday in competition with Boeing's F-18 Superhornet, EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon, Russia's MiG-35, French firm Dassault's Rafale and Swedish SAAB's Gripen JAS-39, the Press Trust of India reported.
"The F-16IN is specifically tailored to meet IAF (Indian air force) needs and is the most advanced multi-role combat aircraft in production anywhere in the world today," Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive Ralph D. Heath told the news agency in New Delhi.
"We have spent years assessing the needs of IAF and we believe it will not just meet but exceed Indian expectations."
The Indian deal calls for 18 of the aircraft selected to be purchased outright and the remaining 108 delivered through Indian public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics under licensed production with the Indian industry, the report said.
Lockheed Martin recently won a contract for six C-130J Super Hercules tactical air lifters for the Indian air force.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International.