SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Lockheed Martin, a leading global aerospace and defense company, has expressed its intention to select a local partner for its C-130J offer to the Indian Air Force (IAF) under the Make in India initiative.
Nicholas Smythe, Lockheed Martin’s head of international business development for the tactical airlifter, confirmed the company’s commitment to partnering with an Indian entity. This partnership aligns with the Indian government’s “Make in India” program, which aims to promote domestic manufacturing and self-reliance in the defense sector.
Lockheed Martin officials revealed plans to finalize the selection of a local partner within the next two to three months. This decision is intended to bolster their competitive bid for the IAF’s tender for 40-80 medium transport aircraft and establish a final assembly line within India.
Smythe hinted at the possibility of selecting multiple partners to facilitate the C-130J’s industrialization in India, should Lockheed Martin secure the contract. This collaboration could potentially lead to the establishment of a second C-130J manufacturing facility globally, with the original plant being located in Marietta, Georgia, since the program’s inception in 1952.
Recently Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of jointly fulfilling the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft by the Indian Air Force in its upcoming Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project. The MoU was signed at the Embassy of Brazil in New Delhi.
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