Tata, LMT Break Ground on C-130J MRO Facility in India

Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems, and Lockheed Martin’s Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John at the groundbreaking | Photo: Lockheed Martin

Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin have begun construction of a new defence Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India that will support the Indian Air Force’s C-130J Super Hercules fleet. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on December 08 in Bengaluru, brought together senior officials from the Indian Air Force, government representatives, and executives from both companies.

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.” He added that the facility “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.”

Tata Advanced Systems CEO, Sukaran Singh stated, “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.”

The MRO centre will provide depot-level maintenance, component repair, structural checks, avionics upgrades and expanded training for engineers and maintainers. It will also create new opportunities for Indian suppliers within the C-130 supply chain.

Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems already collaborate on C-130 aerostructures, with their joint venture recently delivering its 250th C-130J tail. The new facility will join Lockheed Martin’s global network of certified service centres and will eventually support the C-130J, KC-130J and earlier C-130 variants.

Construction is scheduled for completion by late 2026, with the first aircraft expected to enter maintenance in early 2027.

Last week, Lockheed Martin announced the delivery of the 250th C-130J empennage produced by Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) in Hyderabad, shipped to the United States for integration into C-130J aircraft.