The first ‘made-in-India’ Centre Wing Box for the Hercules C-130 aircraft made by Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd., (TLMAL) at its facility here, was delivered to Lockheed Martin on Friday.
George Shultz, Vice-President & General Manager of Lockheed’s C-130 programs, recalled that they had already delivered six C-130s to India and were expecting more orders of the 4-engine turboprop military transport aircraft.
“The six C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft left our facility in Marietta on December 15 last and we are looking forward to India placing the order for the next six,” he declared, adding that the new ones will have parts made in Hyderabad.
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The joint venture facility is export-oriented. “Besides India, 15 other countries have placed order for C-130s,” he said. “Lockheed’s trust in the Tata Group was well-placed and with the delivery of CWB before schedule, the Indian partner was now a trusted, long-term supplier of specialised aerospace components,” Mr. Schultz stated.
TLMAL is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and U.S.-based defence systems manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation.