US defence and aerospace company Lockheed Martin has expressed its readiness to transfer technology for certain C-130J Super Hercules components to India if it secures the Indian Air Force’s requirement for 60 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA), according to recent reporting.
Robert Toth, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President for Strategy and Business Development for Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, said winning the MTA contract could provide India with access to advanced technologies from the company’s broader aerospace and defence portfolio.
The comments follow the Ministry of Defence’s reported issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) in August for 60 MTAs for the IAF. The proposed program has been reported at around ₹1 lakh crore ($10–12 billion).
The RFP has reportedly been shared with five Indian companies, including Tata Advanced Systems, which is partnering with Lockheed Martin to offer the C-130J; Mahindra Defence, which is associated with Embraer’s C-390 Millennium proposal; Reliance Defence; Adani Defence; and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Proposal
In a joint interview, Toth and William L. Blair, Lockheed Martin’s Regional Chief Executive for Asia and India, highlighted the C-130J’s existing operational experience with the IAF and its suitability for demanding environments.
The IAF currently operates 12 C-130J aircraft. The fleet has supported a range of missions, including transporting personnel and equipment to high-altitude locations, humanitarian assistance, disaster-relief operations, and evacuations from crisis zones. Lockheed Martin says India’s C-130J fleet has accumulated more than 53,000 flight hours.
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems have proposed an industrial arrangement involving 60 new Super Hercules aircraft, with 12 delivered in flyaway condition and 48 manufactured and assembled in India under the Make in India framework. The companies have previously announced plans to expand C-130J manufacturing and assembly capacity in India if the MTA contract is awarded.
The proposal also includes efforts to align the existing fleet with future aircraft, potentially creating a more standardized C-130J fleet for the IAF.
Expanding C-130J Manufacturing in India
Lockheed Martin is evaluating the establishment of additional C-130J production and assembly capacity in India beyond its existing US production operations. The company has developed a long-standing industrial partnership with Tata Advanced Systems, with Indian facilities already contributing components to the global Super Hercules program.
Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL), based in Hyderabad, serves as the global source for C-130J empennage assemblies. Lockheed Martin says TLMAL has delivered more than 260 empennages for the worldwide Super Hercules program.
The partnership is also expanding into aircraft sustainment. Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin broke ground in December 2025 on a dedicated C-130J Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India. The facility is intended to support the IAF’s C-130J fleet and potentially other regional and global operators.
C-130J Operational Capabilities
The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed for tactical airlift missions. Its capabilities include troop and cargo transportation, operations from short runways, and support for missions in challenging environments.
The platform has accumulated extensive operational experience worldwide. Lockheed Martin says more than 560 Super Hercules aircraft have been delivered to international customers, while its global fleet has accumulated millions of flight hours.
For India, the C-130J also has an established operational record. The IAF has used the aircraft for specialized missions, including operations in high-altitude regions and humanitarian assistance. Lockheed Martin describes India’s C-130J configuration as highly integrated and tailored to the country’s operational requirements.
Indian Aerospace Supply Chain
Lockheed Martin’s C-130J presence in India extends beyond aircraft operations. Its partnership with Tata Advanced Systems has created an established aerospace manufacturing network supporting the global aircraft program.
TLMAL manufactures C-130J empennages in Hyderabad, while other Tata-Lockheed Martin partnerships contribute to the wider aerospace supply chain. Tata Advanced Systems has highlighted the delivery of more than 260 C-130J empennages from India to the global program.
The companies have also positioned the proposed MTA program as an opportunity to expand Indian manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and supplier participation.
If Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems secure the MTA contract, the proposed expansion would build on an industrial relationship that already includes C-130J aerostructure manufacturing and an upcoming MRO capability in India. The program would therefore combine a new aircraft procurement requirement with further development of India’s domestic aerospace manufacturing and sustainment ecosystem.
