Atlanta: As Indian Air Force gets ready
to induct the first of its C-130J transport aircraft early
next year, the US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has assured
India of full serviceability at all times -- but at a price.
The offer from the American company may prove to be a
boon to IAF which has been having massive serviceability
problems with its Russian supplied short and medium haul
transport aircraft which are forced to be grounded due to
shortage of spares.
With IAF now poised to change its transport inventory
from Russia to apparently US, the Lockheed Martin is offering
80 per cent serviceability for its C-130J transport aircraft
enabling it to be operational at all times.
The military aircraft manufacturer has assured the IAF
that it will ensure their six C-130J transport fleet is fit
and ready for operations when the IAF requires it badly.
For that, the firm has offered to maintain a 80 per
cent serviceability of the four-engine turboprop military
transport aircraft, bought by India in 2007 at a cost of USD
1 billion for its Special Forces operations.
After decades of flying Russian aircraft, India
recently signed major contracts with the US firm for supply of
these aircraft for special operations. The company is hoping
that New Delhi would increase its orders to make Hercules as
the main stay of the IAF transport fleet replacing the ageing
Russian AN-32 aircraft.
The first of the six C-130J currently under production
at the Lockheed Martin`s facility in Marietta near here is
scheduled for delivery by February 2011 and these would be
based at IAF`s Hindon air base just outside the capital New
Delhi.
"We have offered India a sustainment package for the
six C-130Js on the basis of performance of the fleet itself.
We have said that the IAF pay us for the after sales support
of spares and maintenance on the basis of an assured 80 per
cent serviceability of the fleet. If the performance is lesser
than what is assured, a penalty can be imposed," Lockheed
Martin`s Director C-130J (India) Abhay Paranjape told
here.
PTI
