Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited are set to change the landscape of the Indian as well as the global aerospace industry. The two industrial behemoths, operating at the cutting edge of aviation technology, are priming up to enhance their strategic partnership which will also bring India and the United States closer at a time of growing geo-strategic uncertainties.
The two industrial giants have signed a framework to expand upon their relationship built through the C-130J Hercules tactical airlifter. The firms have decided to establish 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. This fits in with the government’s vision of making India a regional aircraft MRO hub.
The new framework also envisions the manufacturing and assembly of the C-130J if the aircraft comes on top for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. The IAF had issued a Request For Information for as many as 80 such aircraft for its transport fleet. The IAF already uses the aircraft and it has operated from some of the most challenging airfields and Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs), such as the unpaved Daulat Beg Oldie located at the base of the Karakoram Pass at an altitude of 16,700 feet. This aspect of the agreement is subject to approval from both the Indian and the U.S. governments. Although Lockheed Martin will continue to build the mighty Super Hercules for American forces and other global customers from its facilities based in the United
States.
“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 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,” said 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 C-130J plays an important part in the air force’s air lift fleet. Very recently a Super Hercules landed troops at night at the challenging air strip in Kargil. Just last month the aircraft airlifted two critical civilian patients from Leh and moved them to Chandigarh in a night sortie. The aircraft has acted as a key instrument in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions both in India and abroad. An IAF crew flying these aircraft, rescued Indians as well as foreign nationals during a daring mission from conflict torn Sudan last year.
Besides India, 22 other nations fly the versatile Super Hercules that can fly nineteen different mission profiles, these include search and rescue, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations, aerial refuelling, cargo transportation, medevac and humanitarian response missions. Nearly 550 Super hercules have flown over three million flying hours.
