WASHINGTON, Feb 12: The biggest US defence company, Lockheed Martin Corp., is negotiating a deal with New Delhi that may allow joint production of the F-16 aircraft in India, company officials said.

Lockheed Martin is also prepared to share the sensitive technology behind the P-3 Orion naval aircraft with India, the officials added.

On Thursday, the company announced winning export licenses to sell P-3C Orion naval surveillance aircraft and C-130J military transport planes to India.

Earlier this week, India said it may also buy 125 single crew F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. The jets, also known as the Fighting Falcons, will be inducted as front-line fighters in the Indian Air Force.

Dennys Plessas, regional vice president of Lockheed Martin, told reporters that if India buys those jets the company would be a reliable supplier of spares and technology, and that the United States was keen to allow joint production of the F-16 in India.

India wants state-run aircraft-maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to produce its future needs for spares.

On Wednesday, Lockheed Martin officials in the US said the company would also reveal the sensitive technology behind the P-3C Orion naval aircraft to Hindustan Aeronautics. If finalized this will be the first such arrangement between the US and India.

Lockheed Martin is also negotiating an arrangement for sourcing components and training with Hindustan Aeronautics so that they may have a service team ready when the deal comes through.

The US government has granted export licenses to Lockheed Martin for selling P-3 Orion and C-130J aircraft to India after New Delhi urged Washington to allow the sale of the aircraft to the Indian military.