Bengaluru: Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin have officially broken ground on a new Defence Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre, marking a major milestone with the launch of the C-130J MRO Facility in India.
The facility is designed to support Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and significantly strengthen in-country sustainment capabilities for the Indian Air Force (IAF), while also opening pathways for regional and global support operations.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Indian Air Force, government representatives, industry leaders, and top executives from Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin, underlining the strategic importance of the programme.
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C-130J MRO Facility in India Strengthens Defence Sustainment Capabilities
Speaking at the event, Lockheed Martin Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John said the initiative reflects the depth and future direction of the collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems and India.
He highlighted that the new C-130J MRO facility brings world-class sustainment capabilities into the country, enhances operational readiness for the Indian Air Force, and creates opportunities to support C-130 operators across the region and globally.
Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems, noted that the new C-130J MRO Facility in India goes beyond infrastructure development.
He said the initiative reinforces India’s growing self-reliance in defence, strengthens the aerospace ecosystem, and supports skill development, innovation, and global competitiveness.
The state-of-the-art facility will provide a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Depot-level and heavy maintenance
- Component repair, overhaul, and structural inspection and testing
- Structural restoration and avionics upgrades
- Advanced training programmes for Indian engineers and maintainers
- Expanded opportunities for Indian suppliers within the global C-130 supply chain
Tata Advanced Systems, a long-standing partner of Lockheed Martin in manufacturing C-130 empennages and aerostructure assemblies in India, will play a central role in operating the new facility.
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Recently, Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) achieved the delivery of its 250th C-130J empennage, further reinforcing decades of industrial collaboration between the two countries.
The Defence MRO centre will become part of Lockheed Martin’s global network of Certified Service Centers and will be strategically positioned to support the C-130J Super Hercules, KC-130J, and legacy C-130 aircraft platforms in the future.
Rod McLean, Vice President and General Manager at Lockheed Martin Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, emphasised that the C-130J platform has played a critical role in India’s military and humanitarian missions.
He added that the C-130J MRO Facility in India will improve response times, enhance regional security, and align with India’s long-term defence and sustainment ambitions.
Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with the first C-130 aircraft scheduled to enter the MRO programme in early 2027.
