Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed
Martin on 8 December 2025 announced the groundbreaking of a new Defence
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India, developed to support
Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. This milestone builds on the
companies' long-standing industrial partnership and will significantly enhance
in-country sustainment for the Indian Air Force, while also creating
opportunities for broader regional and global support.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought
together senior officials from the Indian Air Force (IAF), government
dignitaries, industry leaders and senior executives from Lockheed Martin and
Tata Advanced Systems.
"Today's groundbreaking
reflects how far our collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems and India has
come, and where we're headed together," stated Lockheed Martin's Chief
Operating Officer Frank St. John. "For more than seven decades, we've
grown alongside India's expanding aerospace and defence industrial base. This
new C-130 MRO facility strengthens that foundation. It brings world class
sustainment capability into India, improves readiness for the Indian Air Force,
and creates opportunities that will support regional and global C-130
operators. We remain committed to building capability for India and from India
for decades to come."
The state‑of‑the‑art C‑130 MRO
facility will provide depot level and heavy maintenance; component repair,
overhaul, and structural checks and testing; Structural restoration and
avionics upgrades; expanded training for Indian engineers and maintainers and new
opportunities for Indian suppliers across the C‑130 supply chain.
Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems and Frank St. John, Chief Operating Officer, Lockheed Martin
Tata Advanced Systems, Lockheed
Martin's long-standing partner in manufacturing C-130 empennages and other
aerostructure assemblies in India, will play a central role in operating the
new facility. Earlier in December 2025,, Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures
Limited (TLMAL) celebrated the delivery of its 250th C-130J tail, marking
another achievement in the US-India relationship and decades long investment
commitment. The Defence MRO facility will join the existing global network of
Lockheed Martin Certified Service Centres and will be strategically located to
service the C-130J Super Hercules, KC-130J and C-130 B-H legacy aircraft in the
future.
"The C-130J Super Hercules is a
proven workhorse for India's military and humanitarian missions," stated
Rod McLean, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Air Mobility
and Maritime Missions. "This Defence MRO facility will bolster response
time and security in the Pacific, ensure world class sustainment capability
within India aligning with the country's ambitions while advancing sustainment
capability for the C-130J fleet across the globe. "The C‑130J and India
have repeatedly achieved firsts together," said McLean. "The C-130
completed a world-record breaking and unprecedented high altitude landing at
Daulat Beg Oldi. More recently, it touched down at Nayoma Air Base in eastern
Ladakh, marking the inauguration of the world's highest operational fighter
base. This new MRO represents another historic first and a unique opportunity
to lay the groundwork for a generational partnership between the C‑130 platform
and India."
With a presence that spans more than
three decades, Lockheed Martin has been a trusted partner to India's defence
and aerospace ecosystem accelerating its manufacturing, skilling and technical
capabilities while demonstrating existing support of "Make in India"
initiatives and the vision of the Indian Government.
The construction finishes by end
2026 and the facility expects to receive the first C130 for MRO operations in
early 2027.
The C-130J-30 delivers “unmatched”
interoperability with global air forces, robust industrial partnerships, and
verified low lifecycle costs with significant fuel savings resulting in a
reduced carbon footprint compared to other medium sized jet airlifters. Since
the arrival of India's first C-130J-30 in 2011, IAF crews have demonstrated the
capabilities found only on a Super Hercules ― from landing at the world's
highest airfield to daring night operations in inclement weather.
Always evolving, continually
innovating and ready for what's next, the Super Hercules leads the charge by
setting standards and shaping the future of tactical airlift missions. The
global C-130J fleet spans 23 nations with 20+ air worthiness certifications.
More than 3 million flight hours have been logged by 560+ C-130Js in support of
20 different mission requirements, including critical worldwide search and
rescue, peacekeeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations,
aerial refueling, commercial cargo transport, medevac and humanitarian response
missions.