Tata, Lockheed Martin aim to make C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in India

Leading aerospace manufacturer Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) will set up a maintenance hub for the C-130J Super Hercules tactical lift aircraft in India and offer production of the planes locally as well in response to an upcoming air force requirement.

The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility will be the largest of its kind being set up by the private sector and will cater for the fleet of 12 aircraft currently in service with the Indian Air Force as well as other transporters operating in the region.

TASL, which is already manufacturing the Airbus C-295 aircraft for the air force at a facility in Gujarat, has also entered an upcoming contest for medium transport aircraft (MTA) that are needed by the air force to replace its fleet of An 32.


The company has announced that it has entered an agreement with Lockheed Martin to set up a local manufacturing and assembly plant if the C-130J is chosen for the MTA requirement by India.

"Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposition for IAF's MTA project is a milestone for TASL. It also marks the entry of Tata Advanced Systems into the defence MRO space in India for large aircraft platforms," said Sukaran Singh, CEO, TASL.

The Air Force has already invited interest from global companies for the requirement of 80 aircraft and is currently working on issuing formal tenders to take the process forward. The MTA requirement will see an Indian company manufacturing the aircraft in partnership with a foreign original equipment manufacturer.

The requirement is likely to see a competition between Tata-Lockeed Martin and Mahindra-Embraer. The latter has already announced a teaming agreement. Airbus could also be a contender but the company has not yet announced a partnership with any Indian manufacturer for the upcoming competition.

In a joint statement, Lockheed Martin said it will continue to build C 130Js for the US government and other global operators at the existing production facility in Marietta, Georgia, US and will establish additional production and assembly capacity in India if awarded the MTA contract.