Tata Advanced Systems, Lockheed Martin Partner To Set Up MRO Hub For C-130J Fleet

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) and Lockheed Martin on Monday announced an expansion of their partnership with the launch of a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility to service the Indian

Air Force’s (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter fleet.

The initiative marks a major step in strengthening India’s defence sustainment ecosystem and is expected to support both domestic and international C-130 operators. The IAF currently flies 12 C-130J aircraft used for strategic airlift, special operations and humanitarian missions.

A ground-breaking ceremony in New Delhi, attended by senior IAF officials, government representatives and industry leaders, marked the formal start of the project. Construction is scheduled to be completed by end-2026, with the first aircraft entering MRO operations in early 2027, TASL said.

Frank St. John, Chief Operating Officer at Lockheed Martin, said the new facility deepens the companies’ collaboration and enhances India’s airlift readiness. “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,” he said.

TASL CEO and Managing Director Sukaran Singh said the project reflects India’s increasing capability to build a self-reliant defence ecosystem. “This milestone marks more than the establishment of a new facility—it represents India’s growing confidence and capability in shaping its own defence future,” he said.

The upcoming facility will offer depot-level and heavy maintenance, component repair, structural restoration, avionics upgrades, and training for Indian engineers and technicians. It is also expected to create fresh opportunities for local suppliers in the C-130 supply chain.

TASL already produces C-130 empennages and other aerostructures, and last week Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) delivered its 250th C-130J tail assembly. The new MRO centre will join Lockheed Martin’s network of Certified Service Centers, with capabilities to support C-130J, KC-130J and legacy C-130 B-H variants.

Rod McLean, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, said the facility would boost operational responsiveness and regional security. He noted that India and the C-130J have achieved several global firsts together, including record high-altitude landings at Daulat Beg Oldi and, recently, at Nayoma—the world’s highest operational fighter base.

Since the arrival of the first C-130J-30 in 2011, the IAF has employed the aircraft across challenging missions, from high-altitude operations to night-time special operations, underscoring the platform’s versatility.