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Kindly provide an update on the status of current
Lockheed Martin programs within India, including
the 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

We stand committed to fostering strategic, long-term international
defense partnerships with India. The USN has offered the MH-60R
via Foreign Military Sales to the Indian Navy. We are confident the
MH-60R “Romeo” is the right aircraft for India’s Navy as it provides a
vital capability for the Navy in the Indo-Pacific region.
The MH-60R is the world’s most advanced, proven multi-mission
maritime helicopter with unmatched multi-mission capabilities: Anti-
Submarine Warfare (ASW)/Anti-Surface (ASuW); Special Operations/
Search & Rescue (SAR); Utility/Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP);
and Command and Control (C2). The aircraft’s fully integrated mission [ INTERVIEW LOCKHEED MARTIN WILLIAM L. BLAIR ]
system builds complete situational awareness and actionable knowl-
edge, enabling target engagement both close-in and over-the-horizon.
In addition, an MH-60R acquisition allows the Indian Navy to benefit
from the ongoing support provided for over 300 MH-60Rs in operation
around the world today.
Here to Stay request for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the India Naval Utility
Apart from MH-60R activities, Sikorsky also responded to the
Helicopter (NUH) program in 2019. We look forward to providing this
capability to the Government of India and remain committed to foster-
William L. Blair, Vice President & Chief ing technology development, manufacturing and strategic collaboration
Executive, Lockheed Martin India in India while maintaining high-value, high-skill technical jobs in the U.S.,
abroad and across our supply base.
Lockheed Martin has appointed William L. Blair
as Vice-President and Chief Executive for its As one of the leaders in UAV technologies, are
India operations. Blair will be responsible for you actively pursuing UAV opportunities in India?
progressing Lockheed Martin’s India vision and Which are the different UAVs currently under
strategy."We see tremendous strength and oppor- consideration in India?
tunity in India’s defence industry - both private and
public. We are committed to fostering growth of Lockheed Martin’s unmanned technologies can play a predominant
India’s defenCe industry well into the future and role in modern-day warfare situations. Our portfolio of sophisticated
actively looking for strategic Indian industry part- unmanned systems are currently being used for a variety of lifesav-
ners across the country," Blair tells Jay Menon in ing military and commercial applications, and the demand for these
an exclusive interview. capabilities is growing. Some of our solutions include the following:
MK39 Expendable Mobile ASW Training Target : We designed and
Excerpts from the interview:
build the EMATT to replicate the sounds and movement of a diesel
India is not new to you, but in your submarine. In deep or shallow water, this target can move in response
new role what are your priorities, to SONAR echoes to effectively training your ASW weapons without
breaking the budget. To date, we have produced over 12,000 EMATTS
and what is that you are bringing for the U.S. and international navies.Condor™ eXtended Endurance &
in for the growth and development Payload (XEP): Developed in conjunction with the Air Force Research
of the company's business in India? Lab (AFRL), Condor™ XEP is a long endurance, Group 1 unmanned
aerial system (UAS) designed specifically for small tactical unit oper-
India is a critical market for us, and we have ations.
an established defence and aerospace foot- Indago: Indago is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) small
print in the country that spans more than three unmanned aircraft system with a portable design that can be rapidly
decades. In my current role, I will be responsible deployed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.
for progressing Lockheed Martin’s India vision With the continued refinement and feedback from our customers,
and strategy. The cornerstone of our strategy our latest offering, the Indago 3, features a low acoustic signature,
rests on building and nurturing partnerships with ruggedized dependability, and rucksack portability. Indago has suc-
Indian industry, with whom we share technology cessfully deployed in support of global military operations with than
and capability and co-produce and co-develop 300 systems in operations.
for India and from India. Vector Hawk: Designed for support to small unit maritime operations,
As we go along, I’ll work on further strengthen- the Vector Hawk is a waterproof, collapsible fixed-wing UAV that can be
ing the growth and development of our business launched by hand or an air-pressurized canister. It has approximately
across India - to offer the full suite of our capa- 50 minutes of endurance using rechargeable batteries and features a
bilities across Aeronautics, Rotary and Mission communications range of approximately 5km when using an antenna
Systems, Missiles and Space businesses. near the sea surface. The Vector Hawk is capable of high-speed dash

44 | January/February 2020 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT