Summary
- India and US partner for local production of Super Hercules.
- Agreement includes MRO facility & expanded manufacturing.
- India seeks to produce more weapons systems locally.
India and the US have entered a “teaming agreement” to expand the production and maintenance of
C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters
in India. According to SIPRI, India is the world’s largest importer of weapons. India heavily depends on imported weapons to maintain its armed forces. After designing and producing weapons systems indigenously, the second-best option for India is to produce them locally under license to increase self-sufficiency.
Lockheed and Tata reach teaming agreement with Super Hercules
In a September 10 news release, defense contractor Lockheed Martin
announced the deal that would allow India to have a greater role in producing and maintaining its fleet of Super Hercules. Lockheed states the agreement “marks a significant step in enhancing India’s defense and aerospace capabilities while also deepening India-US strategic ties.”
Photo: Photo: Eugene Berman l Shutterstock
Lockheed states the agreement creates the framework for the two countries to collaborate on future potential business opportunities. These include establishing a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility in India so that the India Air Force’s existing fleet of twelve Super Hercules can be maintained at home. Significantly, it also expands Super Hercules manufacturing and assembly in India.
For now, Lockheed says it will continue to build India’s C-130J Super Hercules at its plant in Marietta, Georgia, but will establish another production and assembly facility in India if the program is approved (the US government needs to greenlight it). If the agreement goes ahead, Lockheed will work with the Indian giant Tata
(specifically Tata Advanced Systems). The Indian Air Force is known to be seeking to acquire up to 80 medium transport aircraft (a role the Super Hercules is seen as excellent at filling).
Lockheed also notes that a joint venture with Tata established in 2010 has been the “single global source of C-130J empennage assemblies included on all new Super Hercules aircraft produced in the United States.” The joint venture has produced over 200 C-130J empennages so far.
The complicated Indian Air Force
The effort is part of India’s ongoing efforts to produce more of its weapons indigenously and, barring that, under license in India. Separately, The Diplomat has recently reported India is considering restarting producing Russian Su-30s for export – a move that is widely seen as circumventing US sanctions on Russia. The US has largely chocked off the export of Russian fighter jets and other systems after passing the CAATSA Act in 2018.
The Indian Air Force has one of the most interesting assortments of aircraft in the world. It has American, French, Russian/Soviet, and British-made aircraft as well as indigenously designed and built fighter jets. Many aircraft are also built in India under license. India does not operate any US-origin fighter jets but does operate US Apaches, Hercules, and other aircraft. Additionally, Lockheed has offered the F-21 specifically designed for India (the F-21 has been called an ‘F-16 on steroids’).