Lockheed Martin and Tata sign Indian C-130J Super Hercules support agreement
The Indian Air Force already operates a dozen C-130J aircraft. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
India has a requirement for as many as 80 medium transport aircraft and the country already operates 12 C-130J aircraft.
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems have signed an agreement to establish an increased maintenance and support capability for India’s C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft which would allow the US company to better position itself to meet Indian requirements.
The teaming agreement will see the establishment of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in India, expansion of production capability subject to regulation and establish additional production and assembly capacity in India if future contracts are awarded.
The Indian Air Force is looking to buy up to 80 medium transport aircraft and issued a Request for Information (RfI) last year and Lockheed Martin has offered the C-130J-30 Super Hercules.
All C-130J empennage assemblies are manufactured in the India, including for all new Super Hercules aircraft produced in the US, and since 2010 Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd has manufactured more than 220 C-130J empennages.
Under the RfI, India has been looking for an aircraft with a payload of 18-30t and Shephard Defence Insight noted that the programme could be worth US$6–7 billion. Deliveries will be expected to begin within three years and would likely take place through to 2034–35.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) Project [India]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal]()
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
![AFA 2026: USAF examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics]()
AFA 2026: USAF examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
-
![India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist]()
India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist
With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.
-
![AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX]()
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.
