US defence major Lockheed Martin, which is in the race to supply 126 fighter planes to India, is eyeing other opportunities to sell aircraft and hardware worth billions of dollars to the Indian armed forces.

The company is also expected to bid for an Indian Navy proposal to acquire some 30 submarine hunter helicopters, the Indian Air Forces (IAF) plan to buy 80 medium-lift helicopters and an Indian Army programme to acquire tactical missiles.

Royce Caplinger, who heads Lockheed Martins new office in New Delhi that was formally inaugurated on Monday, said burgeoning defence ties between the US and India had opened up new doors for American armament firms.

Talking to mediapersons he said, Theres a new opportunity here almost every day.

Mr Caplinger believes that the F-16 Falcon jets offered by his firm stand a good chance even though they are competiting against the French Mirage 2000 and Russian MiG-29.