Lockheed-Tata facility for C-130J military jets to come up in B'luru

US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) today did the ‘ground-breaking’ ceremony of a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for the C-130J military planes in India. The facility will come up in Bengaluru.

The construction finishes by 2026-end and the facility expects to receive the first C130 for MRO operations in early 2027, a statement of Lockheed Martin said.

The new facility comes in the backdrop of the Indian Air Force (IAF) seeking to acquire up to 80 medium transport aircraft. It issued a request for information (RFI) last year. Lockheed Martin has responded to the RFI, proposing the C-130J as a candidate. The IAF operates a fleet of 12 C-130J aircraft.

The state‑of‑the‑art MRO facility will provide depot‑level and heavy maintenance, component repair, overhaul, structural checks and testing, structural restoration and avionics upgrades, expanded training for Indian engineers and maintainers; opportunities for Indian suppliers across the C‑130 supply chain

Lockheed Martin and Tata already have a joint venture called Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited, which operates a plant in Hyderabad producing parts of the C-130J for Lockheed Martin’s global supply chain.

The two companies, last year announced a ‘teaming agreement’ to expand their business relationship through the C-130J. This included establishing an MRO facility in India to support the IAF’s existing fleet of 12 C-130Js, as well as those operated by other air forces.

The agreement aims to expand manufacturing and assembly facilities in India to produce aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.

Lockheed Martin’s Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John said : “Today’s groundbreaking reflects how far our collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems and India has come, and where we’re headed together”.

This new C-130 MRO facility strengthens that foundation. 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.

Commenting on the occasion, Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems, said, “It represents India’s growing confidence and capability in shaping its own defence future. The MRO venture strengthens our aerospace ecosystem, creating a foundation for innovation, skill development, and global competitiveness.”