Lockheed Martin has acknowledged that it will be able to set up a C-130J Super Hercules turboprop assembly line in India if it wins the MTA (Medium Transport Aircraft) competition from the local Air Force.
Responding to Hindustan Times, Anthony G. Frese, Vice President, Business Development, said, “The MTA competition provides us a significant opportunity to meet IAF’s tactical airlift requirements. We are exploring options for setting up an assembly line for the C-130J in India.”
The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched the MTA program with the aim of adding 40 to 80 tactical transport aircraft capable of carrying 18 to 30 tonnes of payload.
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In addition to Lockheed Martin, Airbus offers the A400M and Embraer, the C-390 Millennium.
Partnerships with Indian companies
Lockheed Martin has been a supplier of the C-130J to the IAF since 2011. There are currently 12 aircraft in service in the country.
What is understood is that the winning aircraft must have a large part of its production on Indian soil and that is why the competitors are seeking to establish local partnerships.
Embraer has entered into a partnership with Mahindra while Airbus already has a joint venture with the Tata Group to assemble part of 56 C295 turboprops in the country.
However, Tata is also a partner of Lockheed with its subsidiary TLMAL (Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited), which supplies the C-130J empennages at a facility in Hyderabad.
If Tata approaches Lockheed Martin, Airbus could reach a deal with state-owned Hindustam Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The MTA program still depends on approval by the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC).
