A day after Tata Advanced Systems began setting up a defence maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Bengaluru to support Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, the US aerospace major pitched the C-130J plane to the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is beginning its hunt to procure up to 80 tactical lift transport aircraft, as the best choice.
IAF currently operates 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. In 2022, the IAF issued a Request for Information (RFI) to purchase Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-era AN-32 and IL-76 planes. The IAF intends to procure around 80 military transport aircraft. The procurement deal is expected to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council in the next few weeks.
READ MORE: Big boost for IAF as MRO facility for C-130J Super Hercules fleet to come up in Bengaluru soon
Brazil’s Embraer's KC-390 Millennium aircraft and Airbus Defence and Space's A-400M plane are also in the race for the MTA programme.
Lockheed Martin pointed out that the aircraft has been a "reliable workhorse" in India and over 20 other nations.
Robert Toth, the vice president (business development, air mobility and maritime missions) at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, in an interview with news agency PTI, said IAF's MTA programme gives the company a chance to not only bring capability to India, but also to further its industrial base.
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He said Lockheed Martin is continuing to invest ahead of MTA in the C-130Js and posturing itself for building aircraft in India. "In fact, out of all of the opportunities across the world, India is the first country where we have pledged that we would set up a co-production facility in India outside of the United States," he was quoted as saying.
The company's plan to set up the co-production facility is largely linked to its winning the contract for the MTA deal.
C-130J Super Hercules is a leading tactical airlift, serving 28 operators in 23 nations. "Over the last 15 years, the Indian Air Force has proven that the C-130J is the right platform for India. Our pedigree and our capabilities have been demonstrated here in India, and it is going to position us quite well for this (MTA) competition," Toth said.
"We believe that if you look at the whole value of what the C-130Js bring compared to our competitors, we are well positioned for this opportunity in India," he said.
