By A Correspondent

Bengaluru (Karnataka): In a major push to India’s defence aviation ecosystem, Indian aerospace and defence major Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and American Lockheed Martin have officially broken ground on a state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility dedicated to the C-130J Super Hercules fleet.

Announced on December 8, 2025, the facility marks a significant expansion of the companies’ long-standing industrial partnership and promises to dramatically improve the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) operational readiness.

The ceremony witnessed the participation of senior Indian Air Force officials, government representatives, and top executives from both companies, signalling the strategic weight behind the project.

Lockheed Martin’s chief operating officer, Frank St. John, called the development a milestone in the US–India defence collaboration.

“For more than seven decades, we’ve grown alongside India’s aerospace and defence base. This C-130 MRO facility strengthens that foundation, enhances readiness for the IAF and unlocks opportunities for regional and global C-130 operators,” he said, reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to building capability “for India and from India.”

TASL CEO and managing director, Sukaran Singh, highlighted the broader national significance of the project. “This is more than a new facility. It reflects India’s growing confidence in shaping its own defence future. The MRO hub will strengthen our aerospace ecosystem and create a platform for innovation, skilling, and global competitiveness,” he said.

What the MRO Facility Will Offer

The upcoming facility will deliver full-spectrum sustainment for the C-130J fleet, including:

• Depot-level and heavy maintenance
• Component repair, overhaul, and structural checks
• Structural restoration and avionics upgrades
• Advanced training for Indian engineers and technicians
• New business opportunities for domestic suppliers across the C-130 supply chain

TASL, already a key partner in manufacturing C-130 empennages and aerostructures, will operate the new facility. The groundbreaking follows Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited’s (TLMAL’s) recent delivery of its 250th C-130J tail, a major achievement in Indo-American aerospace cooperation.

Lockheed Martin’s air mobility and maritime missions chief Rod McLean underscored the aircraft’s track record in India from the record-breaking high-altitude landing at Daulat Beg Oldi to the recent touchdown at Nayoma Air Base, now the world’s highest operational fighter base.

The new MRO, he said, represents “another historic first” and lays the foundation for a “generational partnership.”

The Defence MRO facility will join the existing global network of Lockheed Martin Certified Service Centres and be “strategically located” to service the C-130J Super Hercules, KC-130J, and C-130 B-H legacy aircraft in the future, an official statement said.

With over three decades of presence in India, Lockheed Martin continues to support ‘Make in India’ through manufacturing, skilling, and technology transfer initiatives.

Construction of the facility will conclude by late 2026, with the first C-130 scheduled to arrive for servicing in early 2027, marking a new era of indigenous sustainment capability for India and the region.

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