India, US To Develop Joint Jet Engine Under 'Make In India' Initiative

The US has connected the joint jet engine development project with India to a proposal to manufacture the US combat aircraft under ‘make In India initiative’.

Pentagon has discussed all the options, including sharing of high end weapons, radar and power plant technology during recent Indian defense minister’s visit, The economics Times reported Wednesday.

Now India can formally evaluate the two US proposals from Boeing and Lockheed Martin to make Jets in India with the US giving written assurance for transfer of technology.

Further, from recent initiatives, it is learnt that the offer from the US Boeing is to set up a new world class production facility in India that would cater to the production of futuristic combat aircraft.

Lockheed Martin also proposes to shift its F 16 fighter line production from the US state of Texas to India as the only production facility of the world.

The offers from US defense companies have turned up following the recent defense minister’s announcement that the country is interested in setting up two production line in India for the one or two fighter jets as soon as possible.