(Photo: LM)
Lockheed
Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have entered into a teaming agreement
to expand upon the companies'
business relationship through the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter.
This announcement marks a significant step in enhancing India's defence and
aerospace capabilities while also deepening India-US strategic ties.
This agreement provides a framework for
collaboration on future potential business opportunities to include establishing
a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the
Indian Air Force's (IAF) existing fleet of 12 C-130Js as well as other global
Super Hercules fleets plus expanding C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India
to produce aircraft for the IAF's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme,
subject to US and Indian government approvals.
Lockheed Martin will continue to build C-130Js for the US
government and other global operators at the existing Super
Hercules production facility in Marietta,
Georgia, USA. Lockheed Martin will establish additional production and assembly
capacity in India if awarded the MTA contract.
"Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposition for IAF's MTA project is a milestone for Tata Advanced Systems," stated Sukaran Singh, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems. "The current announcement is also significant as it marks the entry of Tata Advanced Systems into the defence MRO space in India for large aircraft platforms. This also helps towards a deeper relationship between the two companies, adding to the aerostructure work by Tata Advanced Systems for Lockheed Martin platforms."
"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," stated
Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility and Maritime
Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin. "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."
The
IAF is actively seeking to acquire up to 80 medium transport aircraft and
issued a request for information (RFI) last year. Lockheed Martin responded to
the RFI as the C-130J-30 Super Hercules is ideally suited to meet the
requirements.
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems
Limited have a long standing partnership through the Tata Lockheed Martin
Aerostructures Ltd, (TLMAL) joint venture. Established in 2010, TLMAL
exemplifies the government of India's "Make in India"
objectives and has the distinction of being the single global source of C-130J
empennage assemblies included on all new Super Hercules aircraft produced in
the United States. To date, TLMAL
has manufactured more than 220 C-130J empennages.
(Photo: VAYU)