Lockheed and Tata Advance Systems partner to aircraft production and maintenance facility in India

In a major boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence, Tata Advanced Systems Limited has partnered with Lockheed Martin to expand their existing business related to the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter. The C-130J is known as the world's workhorse, not just for its large global presence, but also for its international supply chain partners including the single source provider of empennages (tail assembly of an aircraft) — Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited in Hyderabad.

With this partnership, Tata Advanced Systems will do aerostructure work for Lockheed Martin platforms.

The agreement will include

• Establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the Indian Air Force's (IAF) existing fleet of 12 C-130Js as well as other global Super Hercules fleets;
• Expanding C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India to produce aircraft for the IAF's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, subject to U.S. and Indian government approvals.

Calling this agreement a milestone for Tata Advanced Systems Sukaran Singh, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems explained how this agreement will help the two companies forge a deeper bond. “The current announcement is also significant as it marks the entry of Tata Advanced Systems into the defence MRO space in India for large aircraft platforms,” Singh added.

Stressing Lockheed Martin’s commitment to self-reliant India Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility and Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin said: “The agreement will further strengthen our degree of confidence that exists in our relationships with our partners in India and the Indian industry at large.”

Interestingly IAF is planning to add up to 80 medium transport aircraft to its fleet and has already issued a request for information (RFI) last year. As Lockheed Martin’s C-130J-30 Super Hercules ideally suits the IAF requirements Lockheed Martin has responded to the RFI.

Going ahead, Lockheed Martin plans to establish an additional production and assembly capacity in India if awarded the MTA contract.

Lockheed Martin builds C-130Js for the US government and other global operators at the existing Super Hercules production facility in Marietta, Georgia, USA.

In 2010, Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited came together for a joint venture - Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd., (TLMAL) with an aim to further bolster the government of India’s ‘Make-in-India’ plan. The facility also has the distinction of being the single global source of C-130J empennage assemblies included on all new Super Hercules aircraft produced in the United States. So far, TLMAL has manufactured more than 220 C-130J empennages. 

The C-130J Super Hercules is used for a variety of missions like search and rescue, peacekeeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations, aerial refuelling, commercial cargo transport, medevac and humanitarian response etc.