Lockheed Martin says it will expand production in India if it wins the 60‑aircraft transport bid announced in August. The company’s senior vice‑president Dan Tenney told PTI that the expansion would build on its existing partnership with Tata Advanced Systems that supplies components for the C‑130J. Tenney added that the plan includes adding new manufacturing lines in India. The move would raise Lockheed’s local footprint beyond its current component supply.
India’s Defence Ministry issued the tender for 60 medium transport aircraft at a cost of $10.5 billion. Five domestic firms—Tata Advanced Systems, Mahindra Group, Adani Defence & Aerospace, Hindustan Aeronautics and Reliance Defence—have entered the bidding process. Boeing and Airbus also have expressed interest, raising the stakes for Lockheed.
Dan Tenney emphasized that Lockheed’s tie‑up with Tata Advanced Systems already produces components and empennages for the C‑130J. "The partnership is robust and will be expanded if we win the bid," Tenney said. He added that the company would also explore broader production and support activities across India.
The proposal calls for 12 aircraft in flyaway condition and 48 manufactured in India. Lockheed also plans to upgrade the Indian Air Force’s existing 12 C‑130Js to the same advanced configuration, potentially bringing the force’s fleet to 72 aircraft. The upgrade would create a homogeneous fleet, simplifying maintenance and training.
The IAF’s current C‑130J fleet has logged over 58,000 flight hours, flying high‑altitude missions in Ladakh, humanitarian relief during Nepal floods and evacuations of Indian nationals from Sudan in 2023.
The Defence Ministry will evaluate the bids in the coming weeks, with a decision expected by September. If Lockheed wins, the contract will trigger the expansion of its Indian manufacturing lines and a formal partnership with Tata Advanced Systems.