Lockheed Martin is prepared to expand its aerospace manufacturing presence in India if its proposal is selected for the Indian Air Force’s requirement for 60 medium transport aircraft, a programme valued at approximately ₹87,150 crore. The company is competing with Indian firms including TASL, Mahindra Group, Adani Defence & Aerospace, HAL and Reliance Defence, each expected to partner with international aircraft manufacturers. Lockheed Martin is bidding with Tata Advanced Systems Limited, building on an established industrial relationship involving C-130J Super Hercules components and empennages manufactured in India. The company has proposed delivering 12 aircraft in flyaway condition while producing the remaining 48 in India. It has also proposed upgrading the IAF’s existing 12 C-130J aircraft to the same configuration, potentially creating a standardized fleet of 72 aircraft. India’s existing C-130J fleet has accumulated more than 58,000 flying hours and has supported missions including high-altitude operations in Ladakh, disaster relief in Nepal and evacuation operations from Sudan in 2023. Lockheed Martin’s proposed industrial expansion would support India’s push for greater domestic aerospace manufacturing and could create additional opportunities across the local supply chain. The competition is therefore significant not only for aircraft acquisition but also for technology transfer, manufacturing and long-term maintenance capabilities.
