Lockheed Martin to bid for naval construction and defence communication contracts in India

Lockheed Martin has said that it would compete in India for up to $5 billion worth of naval contracts, mainly for three new vessels and a submarine upgrade programme. According to a senior company official, the company would also bid for defence communications contracts worth another $4 billion.

Richard Kirkland, Lockheed Martin's president, South Asia, in conversation with the media at the Singapore air show, said that India plans to have dedicated voice and data networks for its army, air force and navy, as well as a national command network.

He also said that India had taken an option to buy a further six C-130J military transport planes, over and above the six that it has already ordered. The billion-dollar deal, inked just this month, was significant in that it broke the long drought of military sales to India by American companies.