Lockheed Martin signs four potential offset agreements

Lockheed Martin, producer of the F-16 jet, yesterday signed four letters of intent related to offset deals with PZL Swidnik, Wojskowe Zaklady Lotnicze no.2 in Bydgoszcz, Warsaw-based Radwar and the Aviation Institute. The agreements will come into force if the government decides to equip the Polish army with F-16s. "If these projects are completed to their full potential, their value will be $0.5 billion," said William Perkins, Lockheed Martin's vice-president for Central Europe. Co-operation with PZL Swidnik will include establishing production of aviation components for Lockheed Martin and Textron, Piper, Gulfstream and Cirrus. PZL Swidnik will also receive marketing support for the export of its SW-4 and Sokol helicopters. Other companies were offered transfers of technology, among other things. William Perkins mentioned that Lockheed plans to sign a similar letter of intent with PZL Mielec soon. Lockheed signed similar agreements with other Polish companies in July, worth $1 billion, and a contract worth $700 million with Bartimpex. Meanwhile, Gripen International has also signed similar agreements with Polish companies while Dassault Aviation, producer of the Mirage 2000-5, will present its final offer on November 12 for an offset deal of 100% over 10 years. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) P.W.