Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems to Expand Super Hercules Opportunities in India
September 11, 2024
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have entered into a teaming agreement to expand their C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter relationship. The new agreement will supports India’s Medium Transport Aircraft Programme and will establish a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facility to support the existing Indian Air Force fleet of 12 C-130Js and other regional and global Super Hercules fleets.
India’s Super Hercules serve with No.s 77 and 87 Squadrons at Hindon (28 Wing) and Panagarh (31 Wing), respectively. One aircraft was lost in March 2014, but an attrition replacement was purchased.
The agreement will provide a framework for future collaboration on new business opportunities most notably producing C-130J aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme, subject to US and Indian government approvals, and assuming that the C-130J wins the MTA competition. The IAF issued a request for information (RFI) last year, and hopes to acquire up to 80 medium transport aircraft. Lockheed Martin believes that the C-130J-30 Super Hercules is ideally suited to meet the requirement.
Lockheed Martin intends to establish additional production and assembly capacity in India for the MTA Super Hercules. The company already has a long-standing partnership
with Tata Advanced Systems Limited under the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd., (TLMAL) joint venture. TLMAL was established in 2010, and helps Lockheed to contribute to the government of India’s ‘Make in India’ policy objectives.
TLMAL has manufactured more than 220 C-130J empennages and is the single global source for C-130J empennage assemblies, which are included on all new Super Hercules aircraft manufactured at Marietta, Georgia, in the United States.
This announcement marks a significant step in enhancing India’s defence and aerospace capabilities while also deepening India-US strategic ties.
Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility and Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin said that: “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 — Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited in Hyderabad. This teaming agreement between Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems further demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s commitment to a self-reliant India and the degree of confidence that exists in our relationships with our partners in India and the Indian industry at large.”
