Lockheed Martin hopes to reach an outline agreement with Enaer by the end of this month to approve the Chilean company as a C-130 Hercules service centre in an initial step towards meeting a 100% offset requirement linked with Chile's purchase of 10 F-16C/D Block 50 fighters.
Enaer has outlined three areas it wants to develop under an eight-year co-operation contract agreed by Lockheed Martin in late January. In addition to becoming a preferred C-130 support centre, the Chilean company is seeking to manufacture parts for Lockheed Martin aircraft, including the F-16, and extend its composite structures manufacturing capability.
The Chilean government agency CORFO is negotiating with Lockheed Martin and General Electric on the offset programme.
"A broard range of technology transfers is anticipated, including design capability enhancements," says Lockheed Martin.
Source: Flight International
