PerspectivesLockheed Martin’s position as the prime system’s integrator for many of the world’s premier maritime systems, make partnerships with the Indian Navy and coast guard—and India’s passion for innovation—a natural fit.

Lockheed Martin provides many of the high tech systems employed by the United States and partner navies, many of which operate in the Asia-Pacifi c theater. India’s strategic geographic position as not only the trade hub of South Asia, but as a peninsula situated across the oil route for more than half of the world’s energy needs, make the Indian Navy’s decision to deploy carrier battle groups off its eastern and western coasts a natural one. The Indian Navy’s vital mission is to protect the freedom of the Arabian Gulf and Bay of Bengal trade routes that carry 90% of India’s trade.

The Japanese, Korean, Australian and US Navies employ the Lockheed Martin Aegis Combat System to protect their battle groups. Only an Aegis system, using the SM-2 missile - a capability developed and refi ned over a 30-year period at a cost of over US$10B - can protect against the modern missile threats deployed in the Asia-Pacifi c theater.

One of the key sensors and weapons systems employed by US carrier battle groups, the MH-60R multi-role helicopter has just been successfully deployed (46 have been delivered), and is being offered to its fi rst potential international partner - India - by the US Navy. The MH-60R, which carries a Lockheed Martin digital cockpit and an integrated mission suite, is the most advanced naval helicopter in the world. It is designed to provide greatly enhanced mission capability, increased fl eet avail-ability, and reduced operating and support costs. Additionally, it provides antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and surface surveillance capabilities. The MH-60R has already accu-mulated more than 4,000 fl ight hours within US Navy squadrons.

With the emergence of India as a global economic force, and the infl ux of national players in the Indian Ocean, India’s protec-tion of its sea lanes of communication, and - as witnessed a short year ago in Mumbai, its coastline – is critical to the security and eco-nomic growth of the nation. Lockheed Martin provides a broad range of maritime products - from Aegis and MH-60R, to submarine combat systems, coastal surveillance sys-tems, acoustic targets, and even the Deep Submergence Vehicle being offered to India’s National institute of Ocean Technology. These capabilities, and Lockheed Martin’s position as the prime system’s integrator for many of the world’s premier maritime systems, make partnerships with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard - and India’s passion for innovation - a natural fi t.