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Lockheed Martin says open to Indian parts in Aegis

By on Thursday, May 14th, 2009

Singapore: US defense industry giant Lockheed Martin said it is open to using some Indian components if chosen to supply the country's navy with its Aegis ballistic missile defense system.

"Because of the way the Aegis combat system is constructed, there is the ability to put specific indigenous capabilities in portions of it," Ric Rushton, director for sea-based missile defense at the firm, told AFP late Monday.

He said the system is built on the principle of "open architecture", allowing countries buying it to use parts made at home, in the same way Japan and South Korea did.

Those countries, the two top US allies in Asia, have naval destroyers equipped with Lockheed's high-tech Aegis system, which is designed to track incoming missiles and shoot them down.

"A similar model could work in India if that's what they are interested in," said Rushton, who was in Singapore for the IMDEX Asia 2009 maritime defence show, which opened Tuesday.

Rushton said no decision had been made by India.

"It's their timeline. I think they are looking to make a decision sometime this year," he said.

"I'm very optimistic about it. I think there is a solid operational requirement on the part of the Indian navy, they need this kind of capability."

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