Bangalore, Januray 14, 2005 (siliconindia)

American armament major Lockheed Martin is bidding to make its first major defence sale to India by offering medium capacity transport aircraft C-130J as a fast-reaction carrier for special forces.

The company wants to enter the Indian market with the sale of a squadron of these highly manoevreable aircraft, whcih have the capability to fly without navigational aids and operate from short and unprepared runways.

"We have held several rounds of talks with Indian officials for the sale of eight to ten of these aircraft which are ideal for counter-terrorist operations, specially to counter hijacks", Michael N Kelley, a senior company official said.

The American company, which will be largest US exhibitor at the forthcoming Aero India show in Bangalore, is also making a bid to sell its new anti-submarine MH-60R helicopters and the latest version of its long-range surveillance aircraft P3C-Orions.

Kelley said besides bidding for an immediate sale of the C-130J aircraft for special forces, the company was also in serious negotiations for Indian Air Force's long-term medium haul transport aircraft contract with the air force's mainstay Russian-made AN-32 aircraft being phased out by 2014.

He said the C-130J being offered to the special forces had the capability to fly undetected and had two versions with the basic one capable of carrying 92 troops and the stretched version 128 men.