Unlocking New Horizons: Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Forge Partnership to Elevate C-130J Super Hercules in India
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have formed a collaboration agreement to build on the firms’ commercial relationship via the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter. This announcement signifies a pivotal advance in bolstering India’s defense and aerospace capabilities while further strengthening India-U.S. strategic connections.
This agreement lays the groundwork for cooperation on upcoming potential business ventures to incorporate:
- Creating a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) center in India to assist the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) current inventory of 12 C-130Js along with other international Super Hercules fleets;
- Enhancing C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India to fabricate aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) initiative, contingent on approvals from U.S. and Indian governments.
Lockheed Martin will persist in producing C-130Js for the U.S. government and other worldwide operators at the existing Super Hercules manufacturing site in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Lockheed Martin will augment production and assembly capacity in India if selected for the MTA contract.
“Partnering with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposal for the IAF’s MTA program is a landmark moment for Tata Advanced Systems,” stated Sukaran Singh, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems. “This current announcement is particularly important as it signifies Tata Advanced Systems’ entry into the defense MRO sector in India for extensive aircraft platforms. This also bolsters a deeper partnership between the two firms, complementing Tata Advanced Systems’ aerostructure efforts for Lockheed Martin platforms.”
“The C-130J is recognized as the world’s workhorse, not only due to its broad global footprint but also for its international supply chain partners, including the sole provider of empennages — Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited in Hyderabad,” remarked Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility and Maritime Missions division at Lockheed Martin. “This collaboration agreement between Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems further reflects Lockheed Martin’s dedication to a self-sufficient India and underscores the level of trust present in our partnerships with stakeholders in India and the wider Indian industry.”
The IAF is actively pursuing the acquisition of up to 80 medium transport aircraft and issued a request for information (RFI) last year. Lockheed Martin replied to the RFI as the C-130J-30 Super Hercules is ideally equipped to fulfill the criteria.
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited share a long-term partnership through the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd., (TLMAL) joint venture. Founded in 2010, TLMAL illustrates the Indian government’s “Make in India“initiative and proudly serves as the sole global manufacturer of C-130J empennage assemblies featured on all new Super Hercules aircraft produced in the United States. To date, TLMAL has successfully crafted over 220 C-130J empennages.
