Lockheed Martin is building its future business on a foundation made from partnership deals with the best companies throughout the world, says Aeronautics sector president Micky Blackwell.
At a press briefing here yesterday, he also gave an update briefing on the company's current programmes, the key points of which include:
C-130J Hercules - the company is striving to take the costs out of the aircraft and is looking at new 'lean' ways of working to boost production.
F-22 - USAF commanders are pushing for another 200 aircraft beyond the 339 planned.
X-33 - now due for roll out in January 2000. First flight is expected in July of the same year.
C-27J - In the next couple of months, launch orders for this aircraft could come in from Australia and Greece.
F-16 - around 100 orders are in the pipeline and Lockheed has identified another 500 'possibles'. When asked if the company was offering them to Israel for a loss, Blackwell says: "Never. We are in the business to make money, we're not going to lose money for the sake of market share."
Source: Flight Daily News
