India-US Defence Partnership Growing Stronger, Says Sergio Gor

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the strategic defence and industrial partnership between India and the United States is growing stronger. On Monday, Gor visited the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) facility in Hyderabad, where he reviewed the production of empennage components for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. His visit comes as Lockheed Martin competes for a major Indian Air Force contract to procure around 80 medium transport aircraft. Gor praised Indian engineers and workers for manufacturing critical aircraft components locally and said the partnership is creating high-skilled employment opportunities while strengthening cooperation for a secure Indo-Pacific.

Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin established their joint venture in 2010, with the Hyderabad facility supplying key structural components for C-130J aircraft manufactured in the US. The Indian Air Force currently operates 12 C-130J aircraft and plans to replace its ageing transport fleet with around 80 new medium transport aircraft. Lockheed Martin’s C-130J, Embraer Defense & Security’s C-390 Millennium and Airbus Defence and Space’s A400M are among the key contenders. Meanwhile, Tata Advanced Systems CEO and MD Sukaran Singh said the company plans to operationalise an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility by December, with the first aircraft expected for servicing by April 2027.