India–US Partnership: Lockheed Martin Delivers 250th C-130J Tail Component

India–US Partnership: Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin based at New Delhi has celebrated the production of the 250th C-130J Super Hercules tail component produced by a joint venture company and called it a significant milestone in the long-standing aerospace relationship between India and the US.

Another key part of the iconic Super Hercules, the most versatile and operationally proven military airlifter in the world, the empennage, the entire C-130J tail assembly and the horizontal and vertical stabilisers needed to control aircraft stability is a critical element in the iconic Super Hercules, the firm said.

"Lockheed Martin marked the delivery of the 250th C-130J Super Hercules tail component manufactured by Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited , a major milestone in the long-standing aerospace partnership between India and the United States," it said in a statement.

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Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Lockheed Martin formed a joint venture in Hyderabad in 2010 as TLMAL.

The statement said that the C-130J tail/empennage was manufactured in India by TLMAL in its advanced aerospace plant at Hyderabad and was exported to the US where it was to be installed on C-130J airplanes manufactured by Lockheed Martin in its facility at Marietta, Georgia.

"This 250th delivery highlights the deep collaboration between Lockheed Martin and Indian industry and reinforces India's growing role in the global aerospace supply chain," Rod McLean, vice president, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at the firm, was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The quality, precision and reliability demonstrated by our Indian partners directly support the C-130J fleet that serves 23 nations around the world for 20 missions ranging from humanitarian aid to special operations. It is a product that is built to deliver and built to last."

The supply chain of Lockheed Martin is based on a global supply chain network of vetted suppliers and the TLMAL facility in Hyderabad is a testament to this, which has been established over decades of collaboration with India, the statement added.

Lockheed Martin and TLMAL have been working together in the area of advanced manufacturing, quality control and development of workforce since the beginning of the empennage program.

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It added that this collaboration would help India to meet its objectives of Make in India and build aerospace and defence manufacturing infrastructure, as well as aid Lockheed Martin in meeting its global production needs in the C-130.

The 250th empennage was a key move on the road to that special strategic industrial relationship between India and the US, the aerospace large said, a mutual desire to innovate, be durable and cooperate in long term global security.

"Our teamwork and ability to deliver have set us apart, and set the standard for tactical airlifters," said McLean. "The world benefits from what we build together."

The C-130J fleet of the world is spread across 23 countries having over 20 air worthiness certifications, the statement added.

"More than three million flight hours have been logged by more than 560 C-130Js in support of 20 different mission requirements, including critical worldwide search and rescue, peacekeeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations, aerial refuelling, commercial cargo transport, medevac and humanitarian response missions," the firm said.

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