US Ambassador Sergio Gor Visits Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Facility in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: US Ambassador Sergio Gor visited the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) facility in Hyderabad on August 24, touring the production line where critical empennage structures for the C-130J Super Hercules are manufactured.The visit comes at a significant time for India-US aerospace and defence cooperation, as Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin are participating in the Ministry of Defence’s Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of 60 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force. The proposed programme is valued at around ₹1 lakh crore.TLMAL, in an official statement, said its long-standing partnership with Lockheed Martin is entering a new phase as both companies work to address the recently released Medium Transport Aircraft requirement.The Indian Air Force currently operates a fleet of 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The Hyderabad facility has become an important part of the global C-130J supply chain, demonstrating the growing role of Indian manufacturing capabilities in aerospace and defence production.During his visit, Ambassador Sergio Gor highlighted the expanding economic and strategic relationship between India and the United States.“The decades-long economic partnership between the United States and India continues to grow stronger through innovation, shared security interests, and economic cooperation,” he said. He added that manufacturing critical C-130J structures in India demonstrates the growing industrial and defence cooperation between the two countries.According to the ambassador, such partnerships can support high-skilled employment, strengthen resilient supply chains and contribute to the shared vision of a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said the company’s partnership with Lockheed Martin has established a proven track record of supplying world-class aerostructures for key programmes, including the C-130J.He said the partnership has also expanded into maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), with the facility expected to become operational soon. Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin are also exploring opportunities to expand their cooperation to complete aircraft platforms under the Make in India initiative, subject to the outcome of the Ministry of Defence process.The companies believe their existing joint capabilities provide an established foundation for scaling production to meet the requirements of the Medium Transport Aircraft programme.The Tata Advanced Systems MRO facility is scheduled to open in December this year, while the arrival of aircraft for the facility is expected in spring 2027.The Hyderabad visit underlines the increasing importance of Telangana’s aerospace ecosystem and the broader role of Indian companies in strengthening global defence supply chains and deepening India-US strategic cooperation.