Lockheed Martin Pitches C-130J for India’s ₹1-Lakh-Crore MTA Deal, Offers First Global Production Hub Outside US

As India moves closer to clearing a multibillion-dollar plan to procure around 80 medium military transport aircraft, US defence major Lockheed Martin has strongly pitched the C-130J Super Hercules, offering to set up the aircraft’s first-ever global production hub outside the United States if it wins the Indian Air Force (IAF) contract.

Senior Lockheed Martin officials stated that the proposed facility would be established in India in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems, marking a significant boost to New Delhi’s defence industrial ambitions and strengthening India’s tactical airlift capability within the Quad framework alongside the US, Australia, and Japan.

What is the IAF’s MTA programme?

The MTA programme, expected to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council in the coming weeks, aims to replace the IAF’s ageing Soviet-era AN-32 and IL-76 fleets. Apart from Lockheed Martin’s C-130J, contenders include Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium and Airbus Defence and Space’s A-400M.

Lockheed Martin argues that the C-130J offers India a proven, low-risk option. More than 560 C-130J aircraft have been delivered globally, logging over three million flight hours across 28 operators in 23 countries.

The IAF already operates 12 C-130Js, which have been deployed extensively for special operations, disaster relief, and high-altitude missions, including flights to Daulat Beg Oldie at an altitude of over 16,600 feet in eastern Ladakh.

What are the C-130J’s capabilities?

Patricia “Trish” Pagan, Vice President for Air Mobility and Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin, said the C-130J’s versatility across 20 certified mission sets and its record of 54 world records make it the “best option for India.”

Beyond standard transport, the aircraft is available in specialised configurations for intelligence, electronic warfare, special forces support, search and rescue, and command roles.

The company is also incorporating advanced technologies into the platform, including a Distributed Aperture System derived from the F-35 fighter. The infrared sensor suite enhances missile warning, night vision, and situational awareness, and is part of broader efforts to integrate artificial intelligence and networked connectivity from “seabed to space.”

How would India be the only other assembly line for C-130?

Lockheed Martin executives underlined that India is the only country being considered for a second C-130J final assembly line outside Marietta, Georgia. Roderick McLean, Vice President for Sustainment Operations, described the MTA programme as the largest international opportunity in the C-130’s 70-year history and a chance to deepen the India-US defence industrial partnership.

Robert Toth, Vice President for Business Development, said a co-production line in India would not only meet IAF requirements but also open export opportunities to other markets. Of the more than 2,700 C-130s built globally, only two prototypes were ever manufactured outside Marietta, underscoring the scale of the proposed shift.

How is C-130J the Quad’s military air mobility workhorse?

The C-130J’s widespread use among Quad nations is another pillar of Lockheed Martin’s pitch. The US inventory continues to grow, while Australia and Japan are in the process of replacing older C-130Js with newer variants. Toth said a larger Indian C-130J fleet would give New Delhi a stronger position in Quad airlift operations and interoperability.

Speed of delivery is also being highlighted as a competitive advantage. Lockheed Martin currently produces between 20 and 24 aircraft annually, with the ability to surge production if required. The company says this capacity would allow it to deliver India’s initial aircraft faster than rivals.

How does India already form part of C-130 supply chain?

India already plays a role in the C-130J global supply chain. Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) in Hyderabad manufactures empennages for all C-130J aircraft worldwide and recently delivered its 250th tail assembly.

Lockheed Martin also plans to establish a certified maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in India, servicing C-130J, KC-130J, and legacy variants for regional operators.

As India weighs its options for the critical MTA programme, Lockheed Martin is positioning the C-130J not just as an aircraft purchase, but as a long-term industrial and strategic partnership aligned with India’s defence modernisation and global ambitions.