Bengaluru is steadily strengthening its position as one of India’s most important aircraft maintenance and aerospace hubs. This momentum received a major boost on Monday when Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and US defence major Lockheed Martin broke ground for a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility dedicated to servicing the C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft.

The new centre will come up in Bengaluru’s growing aerospace corridor and marks a significant step in India’s push toward Atmanirbhar Bharat, especially in defence maintenance and long-term sustainment.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates 12 C-130J aircraft, which are used for special missions, high-altitude transport, disaster relief and frontline logistics. Until now, major maintenance for these aircraft had to be done abroad.

Setting up an in-country MRO hub is expected to reduce aircraft downtime and cut dependence on foreign repair facilities. Besides the new facility is also expected to improve IAF’s operational readiness and build long-term technical capabilities within India.

This becomes even more important as the IAF prepares for a major procurement of nearly 80 new heavy-lift transport aircraft in the coming years.

The facility will be run by Tata Advanced Systems, which already manufactures major aerostructures, including the entire empennage (tail assembly) for the C-130J at its Hyderabad plant. Just last week, the Tata–Lockheed Martin joint venture delivered its 250th C-130J tail, a major milestone in the US–India partnership.

Senior officials from both companies said the project reflects India’s growing confidence in building and maintaining high-end military platforms within the country.

Lockheed Martin COO Frank St. John said the new facility builds on more than seven decades of partnership with India, while TASL CEO Sukaran Singh called it a sign of India’s ability to shape its own defence future.

Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by end-2026, with the first C-130J aircraft arriving for maintenance in early 2027.