Lockheed Martin Promotes Super Hercules for IAF Transport Requirement as MTA Tender Opens

US aerospace and defence major Lockheed Martin has expressed its willingness to transfer technology for several components and systems of its C 130J Super Hercules transport aircraft if it wins the Indian Air Force's contract for 60 Medium Transport Aircraft. Robert Toth, Lockheed Martin's Vice President for Strategy and Business Development for Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, said a successful bid would open the door for India to gain access to a wider range of advanced technologies developed across the company's defence and aerospace operations.

The proposal comes after the Ministry of Defence issued a request for proposal in August for 60 Medium Transport Aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The programme is estimated to be worth around Rs 1 lakh crore, or approximately USD 10 billion to USD 12 billion. The request for proposal has been issued to five Indian companies. Tata Advanced Systems has partnered with Lockheed Martin to offer the C 130J Super Hercules, while Mahindra Defence is working with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer on the C 390 Millennium. Reliance Defence, Adani Defence and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are also involved in the procurement process.

During a joint interview with William L Blair, Lockheed Martin's Regional Chief Executive for Asia and India, Toth said the C 130J was designed to perform in demanding environments, including hot weather and high altitude locations. The company is highlighting the aircraft's ability to operate from short and unprepared runways as one of its key advantages for India's requirements. The Indian Air Force already operates 12 C 130J aircraft. These planes have been used for a range of challenging missions, including the movement of personnel and equipment in Ladakh, humanitarian assistance operations and the evacuation of Indian citizens from conflict affected Sudan in 2023.

Lockheed Martin said the Indian fleet has accumulated more than 53,000 flight hours. The existing aircraft have also been configured to meet India's specific operational and geographical requirements. As part of its proposal, Lockheed Martin is offering 60 new C 130J aircraft, with 12 to be delivered in flyaway condition and 48 to be manufactured in India under the Make in India framework. The company has also proposed upgrading India's existing 12 aircraft to bring them to a common configuration. If the proposal is accepted, the Indian Air Force would eventually operate a standardised fleet of 72 C 130J aircraft.

The company is also examining the possibility of establishing an additional C 130J assembly line in India. Toth said Lockheed Martin has spent around 15 years developing India's private defence and aerospace manufacturing ecosystem through its partnership with Tata Advanced Systems. William Blair said Lockheed Martin is establishing a dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility in Bengaluru to support the regional C 130J fleet. He said an order of 60 aircraft would provide the scale required to support an additional assembly line in India.

Lockheed Martin already has a significant manufacturing relationship with Indian companies. Tata Sikorsky Aerospace Limited has supplied 157 aerostructure component sets for the Sikorsky S 92 programme in the United States since 2010. The C 130J is competing against the Embraer C 390 Millennium in the medium transport aircraft programme. The Super Hercules is powered by four Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines and has a maximum payload of approximately 21.8 tonnes. The C 390 uses two IAE V2500 E5 turbofan engines and has a maximum payload of about 26 tonnes.

While the C 390 has a higher maximum speed and service ceiling, Lockheed Martin is emphasising the C 130J's operational record, particularly its ability to conduct missions from short, unprepared and high altitude airfields. Globally, more than 560 C 130J aircraft have been delivered to 28 countries, according to Lockheed Martin. The worldwide fleet has accumulated more than 3 million flight hours.

The company is also highlighting its growing Indian supplier network as part of its proposal. Lockheed Martin works with around 500 Indian suppliers, including more than 140 MSMEs, through its two major joint ventures with Tata. Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures, based in Hyderabad, has been manufacturing empennages for the global C 130J programme since 2013. The facility has delivered 265 empennages, according to the company. Lockheed Martin said its Indian joint ventures and supply chain have generated more than Rs 5,833 crore in export value and over Rs 1,667 crore in revenue for the Indian industry.

The company has also linked its India operations with initiatives such as Make in India, Skill India and Start Up India. Its activities include support for innovation programmes and university level engineering initiatives connected with the C 130J. With the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft procurement process now underway, Lockheed Martin is positioning the C 130J proposal around a combination of aircraft supply, domestic production, maintenance capabilities, technology transfer and expansion of India's aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.