Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have entered into a partnership agreement to expand MRO services for the Indian Air Force’s 12 C-130J Super Hercules turboprops and also expand and manufacture the aircraft in India.
The commitment, however, is subject to the country’s Air Force MTA program, which could lead to a contract for up to 80 tactical airlifters.
The potential Indian assembly line will not replace the Marietta, Georgia, facility, Lockheed explained, but will establish additional production capacity.
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“Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposition for IAF’s MTA project is a milestone for Tata Advanced Systems,” said Sukaran Singh, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems.
“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,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility and Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin.
Embraer C-390 in partnership with Mahindra
The MTA (Medium Transport Aircraft) program is one of the most ambitious of the Indian Air Force, which aims to expand its transport capacity in addition to providing its industrial park with know-how in manufacturing larger aircraft.
In addition to Lockheed, Embraer is competing with the C-390 Millennium, a twin-engine jet with more performance, capacity and technology than the Hercules, but which has so far had 40 orders announced.
In February, Embraer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mahindra to support a possible assembly line in India if it wins the bid.
Airbus also offers the A400M turboprop, but Lockheed Martin’s deal with the Tata Group virtually closed the door on a partner in the country.
Tata and Airbus are producing the C295 light military freighter in the country.
