-Tata Advanced Systems, Lockheed Martin Announce Bengaluru MRO Facility

Delhi, 8 December (H.S.): In a major step toward bolstering India’s defence manufacturing and self-reliance, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Lockheed Martin on Monday announced the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in Bengaluru.

The facility, set to be completed by the end of 2026, is expected to begin operations in early 2027, marking a key milestone in India’s growing aerospace ecosystem.The announcement followed a Bhoomi Pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) attended by senior Indian Air Force officers and representatives from both companies.

The development builds on the long-standing industrial partnership between Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems and is aimed at strengthening domestic defence capability while fostering regional and global collaboration.

Lockheed Martin’s Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John said the collaboration demonstrates the company’s deepening engagement with India’s aerospace and defence industrial base.

“For over seven decades, we have advanced alongside India’s growing defence ecosystem. This MRO facility will reinforce that foundation — delivering world-class sustainment in India and enhancing the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force,” he said.

The center, he added, would also serve regional and global C-130 operators, expanding India’s role as a strategic aviation hub.Tata Advanced Systems CEO and Managing Director Sukaran Singh called the initiative “a milestone far beyond mere infrastructure.”

He said the state-of-the-art MRO will offer depot-level maintenance, heavy repairs, component overhauls, system testing, structural restoration, and avionics upgrade capabilities—“strengthening the nation’s aerospace ecosystem and creating new opportunities for Indian suppliers and engineers.”

Singh highlighted that Indian engineers will receive specialized training, further boosting domestic capability.Lockheed Martin’s Vice President and General Manager for Air Mobility, Rod McLean, noted that the company recently delivered the 250th C-130 Super Hercules empennage structure produced in India.

“This new MRO marks another success in the long-standing U.S.-India partnership and our decades-old commitment to investment here,” he remarked. The facility will join Lockheed Martin’s global certified service center network, supporting maintenance of C-130J Super Hercules, KC-130J, and legacy C-130B–H aircraft.

McLean added that the C-130J Super Hercules has achieved record-breaking feats, including landing at Daulat Beg Oldie, the world’s highest airstrip, and most recently at Nyoma Air Base in eastern Ladakh, the world’s highest operational fighter base.

“This MRO represents an enduring partnership between the C-130 platform and India for generations to come,” he said.Underscoring Lockheed Martin’s three-decade presence in India, McLean affirmed that the company remains a trusted partner in advancing the nation’s ‘Make in India’ vision by accelerating indigenous manufacturing, skill development, and technical capacity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar