F-21 Is The Best Fit For IAF's Needs

INDIAN AMERICAN VIVEK LALL, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has been pushing for greater Indo-US defence partnership. As part of his efforts, Lockheed has offered F 21 fighter planes for the Indian Air Force along with building its entire production line in India and integrating Indian companies with the global supply chain. Speaking with BW Businessworld’s MANISH KUMAR JHA, he says the Lockheed offer will not just herald a new era in Indo-US defence cooperation but also help build the most advance air capability for India. Excerpts:

What are your thoughts on the defence industry and its potential to be the catalyst of industrial growth in India over the next 5-10 years?

The game changer for ‘Make in India’ will be strategic, long-term international defence partnerships that benefit multiple stakeholders, but foremost fulfill India’s pressing needs to equip itself with advanced, scalable defence capabilities. We have been heartened that India’s defence budget and its domestic defence industry are growing, and we have identified several Indian companies of all sizes, including MSMEs, who we can ‘Make in India’ with and join our massive global supply chain. This enables Lockheed Martin to diversify its supplier ecosystem and deliver world-class products and capabilities from India to India and to the global market. We have demonstrated the success of this approach through our engagement in India’s manufacturing space for the last decade, and our joint ventures with Tata are a prime example of that.

The India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) 2.0 is a tripartite initiative of the Indian government, Lockheed Martin and Tata Trusts. Please tell us about the collaboration and outcomes.