Lockheed Martin has offered deeper C-130J technology cooperation as part of its bid for India’s 60-aircraft Medium Transport Aircraft requirement. According to company executives, winning the competition could open access for Indian industry to technologies developed across Lockheed Martin’s aerospace and defence portfolio. The proposed package includes 12 ready-built aircraft and 48 produced domestically under Make in India, alongside upgrades to the IAF’s current fleet of 12 C-130Js. This would create a standardised fleet of 72 aircraft. Lockheed Martin is also examining the possibility of establishing another assembly line in India and is developing a C-130J maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Bengaluru. India’s existing Super Hercules fleet has already exceeded 53,000 flight hours while supporting operations ranging from high-altitude missions in Ladakh to disaster relief and overseas evacuation. Globally, the aircraft has accumulated more than 3 million flight hours across over 560 delivered platforms in 28 countries. The company’s Indian supply chain includes around 500 suppliers, more than 140 of them MSMEs. Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures has produced C-130J tail assemblies in Hyderabad since 2013, reaching 265 deliveries.
