http://news.yam.com/cna/international/200801/20080117248726.html
爭取訂單 美為印度量身打造新型F16-IN戰機
中央社╱中央社 2008-01-17 15:01
（中央社記者郭傳信新德里十七日專電）據綜合印度媒體今天發自美國德克薩斯州報導，為爭取印度空軍採購一百二十六架戰機的合同，美國洛克希德馬丁公司宣稱，將會為印度量身打造全世界最新型的F16-IN戰機，新增特色包括延長戰機的超音速巡航能力，以及同時偵測及摧毀來自地面與空中威脅的能力。
據「印度時報」報導，在德州沃斯堡F16戰機製造廠裡，洛克希德馬丁公司發言人阿迪莫維契告訴到訪的一群印度記者說，「提供印度的F16-IN，是全世界最先進的F16系列戰機，擁有獨一無二的安全系統，即使戰機失去控制，也能使飛機復原和拯救飛行員生命」。
但報導中並未詳述這項安全系統的運作方式。
報導說，F16-IN戰機也將裝配先進的主動式電子掃描陣列雷達，使戰機具備同時偵測及摧毀來自地面和空中威脅的能力。報導強調，印度鄰國巴基斯坦的F16戰機就缺乏這種裝備。
「印度快報」也報導說，F16-IN新增的超音速巡航能力將可節省油料並延長巡航範圍。報導說，目前只有洛克希德馬丁公司生產的第五代戰機如F22「猛禽」以及美國另一種隱形戰機F35聯合攻擊戰鬥機，具有這種功能。
不過，印度記者也質疑洛克希德馬丁公司為何不提供更先進的F35聯合攻擊機給印度。報導引述公司發言人的理由說，僅有美國政府有權決定是否出售該型戰機，目前該型戰機的生產能力未能滿足印度要求交貨的期限，以及F16-IN戰機的配備提升已完全符合印度軍方的條件。
據報導，美國空軍目前已不再接收任何F16戰機，主因在於F35戰機的大批量產將於二零一六年開始，屆時美國空軍現有戰機也正好分批汰換。報導引述洛克希德馬丁公司發言人的話說，F35是未來新世代的作戰機種，印度如果現在採購F16戰機，屆時也自然繼續採購F35戰機。
印度空軍總額高達一百四十億美元的一百二十六架多功能戰機採購計畫，目前屬意的有六種戰機，都是當今戰機的翹楚，包括美國的F16、波音公司的F18 「超級大黃蜂」、俄羅斯的米格35（米格29 改良型）、瑞典的「鷹獅」超音速戰鬥機、法國第四代「拉費爾」戰機和歐洲數國合作產製的歐洲戰機。
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/F-16_maker_Lockheed_mounts_an_India_campaign/rssarticleshow/2706209.cms
F-16 maker Lockheed mounts an India campaign
17 Jan 2008, 0017 hrs IST,Vinay Pandey,TNN
NEW DELHI: "A mistake covered up may cost the lives of a brave crew." The message, displayed on a huge board at the assembly line of the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Lockheed Martin's plant at Marietta, Georgia, stares at workers all the time, reminding them of the enormous responsibility on their shoulders.
The message could also become a marketing slogan for the leading US defence manufacturer as it looks forward to sealing a deal with India for supply of six of these military transportation planes and makes a pitch, with its upgraded F-16 fighter planes, for India's biggest defence contract in two decades.
The contract for the supply of 126 medium multirole combat aircraft is estimated to be worth $14 billion, or Rs 55,000 crore. The Hercules deal, awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security, would be the first direct military sale by a US company to India.
"The F-16 Fighting Falcon being offered to India has unique safety features that recover the aircraft — and save the pilot — even if the plane runs out of control," Lockheed Martin executives told a group of Indian reporters at the F-16 production facility at Fort Worth in Texas. As the Indian Air Force grapples with an aging fleet, which has come to be known as flying coffins, the F-16's safety features could be a USP, the executives said.
In fact, the company already has a name for the customized aircraft it intends to sell to India — F-16IN. It is also inclined to set up an assembly line in India in collaboration with Indian partners. The aircraft's latest features, none of which are available in the version Pakistan has, include AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars, electronic warfare suites and infrared searching.
AESA gives the plane the capability to simultaneously track and destroy ground and air threats. Although supercruising, or cruising at supersonic speeds, is not being touted as one of the features of the new F-16, pilots flying the latest version say they often supercruise.
"The F-16IN is the most advanced F-16 ever," said Chuck Artymovich, the company's director, business development. Many in India might think Americans are fully absorbed in the Hillary, Obama or Romney campaigns but for Artymovich and his team, it's a season of a full-time "India campaign". Will the campaign lose momentum if the Indo-US nuclear deal falls through? Richard Kirkland, Lockheed Martin's South Asia president, insists it won't. "It has already got the backing of the US government and a go-ahead from the US Congress," he says. Many in India, however, may not agree with him as they would not like to take a favourable US foreign policy for granted.
Lockheed Martin hopes to give a detailed proposal soon to the US government on the features and price of the F-16s on offer to India. The US government, in turn, will make a proposal to the Indian government offering F-16s and F-18s.
Incidentally, the F-18 Super Hornet, built by Boeing, is not to be mistaken for an upgraded version of the F-16. The Super Hornet is a supersonic carrier-based fighter aircraft and currently its only user is the US navy. The other aircraft competing for the Indian Air Force's contract are the Russian MiG-35, the French Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon being offered by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers and Swedish company Saab's Gripen.
Why is Lockheed Martin not offering its new fifth-generation fighter aircraft F-35 to India? Company executives give three reasons: such an offer can be made only by the US government, manufacturing capability for the F-35 is still not adequate to meet the timeframe set by India, and the upgraded F-16 meets all the requirements put forward by the Indian government.
The F-35 Lightning II, yet to be officially rolled out, is a multirole stealth-capable strike fighter. It can
perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat.
In fact, the US air force is not going to acquire any more F-16s. Mass production of the F-35 is likely to begin by 2016, when it will start rolling out at the rate of one aircraft a day. "The F-35 is the fighter of the future," company officials said, insisting that if India acquires the F-16 today, the F-35 would be its natural successor in future.
Meanwhile, the "India campaign" rolls on with even Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi being roped in. Lockheed martin executives have dug up a forgotten piece of history to emphasize the ties between the two countries. Thirty-five years ago, during the Chinese aggression, Prime Minister Nehru called up President Kennedy, who sent a fleet of Hercules aircraft to India. These aircraft stayed in India for nine months and carried troops and cargo to inaccessible areas in the Himalayas. The Herck also had two distinguished passengers — Nehru and daughter Indira.
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