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at speeds up to 70 knots.                                      Can you enumerate on the cutting-
        Vehicle Control Station-international (VCSi):  Built with our exten-  edge technologies that Lockheed
        sive experience, VCSi brings modular and extensible control to your   Martin is bringing to India as a
        unmanned system. VCSi is made in Canada, is commercially available   part of its offset requirement?
        and is ITAR-free. Its modular architecture allows you to purchase only
        the components you need for your system while a developer-friendly  Lockheed Martin has been diligently discharging
        API and plug-in architecture allows you to easily add or extend func-  its offset obligations in India since 2009. This has
        tionality for your unique UAV control needs.                   delivered extensive economic benefits through
        Stalker eXtended Endurance (XE):  A  silent,  operational,  com-  investment, skills training, transfer of technology
        bat-proven  Group  2  unmanned  aerial  system  (UAS),  Stalker  XE  and exports. Our two successful joint ventures
        provides long-endurance imaging capability in all weather conditions  in Hyderabad have been a key part of helping
        and includes a vertical takeoff and landing capability.        India achieve its goal of developing an aerospace
        We will be happy to engage in any conversations with the Indian Armed  and defense supplier ecosystem, promote indige-
        Forces around our offerings, should there be any opportunity to do so.  nous manufacturing and participating in the global
                                                                       supply chain, contributing to ‘Make in India’ initia-  [ INTERVIEW LOCKHEED MARTIN  WILLIAM L. BLAIR ]
        Moving to the fighter program: What are the key                tives. The investments related have contributed
        aspects of F-21 that makes it a viable option for              in manufacturing equipment, tooling, intellectual
        the Indian fighter jet requirement?                            property and non-recurring engineering; and con-
                                                                       tributed to the private Indian industry revenues
        The F-21 will truly be a game-changer for the Indian Air Force, Indian  and exports. They have also resulted in the train-
        industry and India-US strategic ties. We are confident the F-21 is the  ing and employment of over 1,500 individuals in
        best solution to meet the Indian Air Force’s capability needs, provide  aerospace engineering, manufacturing and man-
        Make in India industrial opportunities, and accelerate India-US coop-  agement jobs in India.
        eration on advanced technologies, including but not limited to fighter
        aircraft.                                                      What is the quantum of sourcing of
           The F-21 has unique capabilities including, an advanced APG-83   aerostructures/parts/engineering
        Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which has detection   and support services from India by
        ranges nearly double that of previous mechanically scanned array   LM? Any new joint ventures in the
        radars and the ability to track and attack more targets with higher   pipeline?
        precision; an Advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) System, developed
        uniquely for India, that provides enhanced survivability against ground   We have been committed to building, trust, tech-
        and air threats; Long-Range Infrared Search & Track (IRST), enabling   nology development and strategic collaboration
        pilots to detect threats without getting detected; Triple Missile Launcher   with India. We have two state-of-the-art manu-
        Adapters (TMLAs) allowing the F-21 to carry 40 percent more air-to-  facturing joint ventures in Hyderabad, India with
        air weapons; and a Dorsal Fairing enabling increased growth capacity   Tata Advanced Systems [Tata Lockheed Martin
        and indigenous systems integration in the future.              Aerostructures  Ltd  (TLMAL);  Tata  Sikorsky
                                                                       Aerospace Ltd. (TSAL)]. This partnership with
                                                                       TASL also includes an on-the-job training element
                                                                       that supports the broader “Skills India” initiative.
                                                                       In early 2019, TLMAL delivered the 100th C-130J
                                                                       Super Hercules empennage from its manufactur-
                                                                       ing facility located near Hyderabad. The delivery
                                                                       milestone highlights the success of Lockheed
                                                                       Martin’s Make in India partnership with Tata.
                                                                         Our joint venture in Hyderabad between Tata
                                                                       and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation manufactures
                                                                       aerostructure components for the S-92 commer-
                                                                       cial helicopter. The facility is also fully integrated
                                                                       into the global supply chain and bears testimony
                                                                       to our contribution to the development of Indo-
        The F-21 is also the only fighter in the world with both probe/drogue  U.S. defense industrial partnership. Lockheed
        and boom aerial fueling capability. This, along with Conformal Fuel  Martin’s Sikorsky partnership with Tata Advanced
        Tanks (CFTs), delivers greater range penetration and loitering staying  Systems Limited (TASL) on the S-92 program
        power to the Indian Air Force. The F-21 delivers an advanced sin-  has positively impacted India’s defense economy.
        gle-engine, multi-role fighter at the most optimal Life Cycle Cost for  Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky partnership with Tata
        the Indian Air Force with the longest service life of any competitor –  Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has positively
        12,000 flight hours.                                           impacted India’s defense economy, and the con-
           Simply put, the F-21 goes further, faster and stays longer than the  tributions of Hyderabad have helped the S-92
        competition – all at the most optimal Life Cycle Cost for the Indian Air  aircraft surpass more than 1.6 million flight hours,
        Force. Whether you’re talking about battlefields or budgets, the F-21  to date. Programs like these create opportunities
        is the clear choice for India.                                 for knowledge-sharing and strategic technology


        ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY                                                           January/February 2020 | 45
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