NEW DELHI— Lockheed Martin is preparing to deepen its aerospace manufacturing footprint in India if its C-130J Super Hercules proposal is selected for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) 60-aircraft medium transport programme.
The US defence major plans to build most of the aircraft in India through its established partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
India issued the tender in August for 60 medium transport aircraft valued at USD 10.5 billion.
The programme has drawn five Indian companies, including TASL, Mahindra Group, Adani Defence & Aerospace, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Reliance Defence, with each expected to work with international aircraft manufacturers.
Lockheed Martin Eyes Tata Partnership
Lockheed Martin already has a substantial manufacturing relationship with Tata in India through Tata-Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL).
The Hyderabad-based joint venture produces C-130J empennages and has become an important part of the Super Hercules global supply chain.
Dan Tenney, Lockheed Martin’s senior vice president for global business development and strategy, said the existing capability would form the foundation for further expansion if the company and TASL secure the Indian contract.
The proposed expansion would cover additional production and other activities within India.
TLMAL delivered its 250th C-130J empennage in December 2025, underlining the scale of the partnership. Lockheed Martin and Tata have also moved into aircraft sustainment, with a dedicated C-130J maintenance, repair and overhaul facility being developed in Bengaluru.
48 Aircraft Made in India
Lockheed Martin’s proposal calls for 12 aircraft to be delivered in flyaway condition, while the remaining 48 would be manufactured in India. This production split would give the programme a significant local manufacturing component if the proposal is selected.
The company had already announced plans to establish additional C-130J production and assembly capacity in India for the medium transport aircraft programme, subject to the required government approvals.
The approach would build on Tata’s existing aerostructure experience rather than starting an entirely new industrial relationship.
The competing bid from Mahindra Group involves Brazil’s Embraer and its C-390 Millennium, putting two international transport aircraft manufacturers against each other with Indian industrial partners.
The final competition will therefore involve not only aircraft capabilities but also manufacturing, localisation and long-term industrial support.
IAF Fleet Upgrade
Lockheed Martin has also linked its new-aircraft proposal with an upgrade programme for the IAF’s existing 12 C-130Js.
The company has proposed bringing those aircraft to the same advanced configuration as the 60 aircraft offered under the new programme.
If implemented, the plan would give the IAF a common fleet of 72 aircraft based on the same configuration. Such standardisation could simplify fleet operations and support while extending the relevance of the C-130J within India’s tactical airlift network.
The IAF’s existing C-130J fleet has accumulated more than 58,000 flight hours. The aircraft have supported high-altitude operations in Ladakh, humanitarian missions during flooding in Nepal and the evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan in 2023, The New Indian Express reported.
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