Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd (TLMAL) recently delivered the 100th C-130J Super Hercules empennage (tail
assembly) from its manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, highlighting the on-going success of Lockheed Martin’s Make in India partnership with Tata.
TLMAL — a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (
www.lockheedmartin.com) — was established in 2010 in Hyderabad.
It has the distinction of being the sole global source of C-130J empennage assemblies for all new Super Hercules aircraft produced in Marietta (Georgia) in the USA.
The empennage assemblies produced by TLMAL include the aircraft’s horizontal and vertical stabilisers, along with leading edges and tip assemblies.
The TLMAL team previously manufactured sets of C-130J centre wing box components; it also introduced a new 4,700m
2 metal-to-metal bonding facility in May 2018.
TLMAL currently employs 500 people. Sukaran Singh, TASL CEO and managing director, said: “It is a moment of great pride for TLMAL, as it delivers the 100th empennage.
“The joint venture has been a great example of a successful US-India industrial partnership and a testimony to Lockheed Martin’s and Tata’s intent of developing aerospace manufacturing in India.
“I congratulate the operations team that has ensured all deliveries ahead of schedule.”
TLMAL empennages have been included in C-130Js that have supported critical world-wide search and rescue, peace-keeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations, aerial refueling, med-evac and humanitarian-
response missions.
They are also included in the LM-100J — the commercial variant of the Super Hercules. The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of 11 C-130J-30s and has ordered an additional C-130J Super Hercules.