US Envoy Spotlights India's Expanding Role In Global Aerospace Manufacturing

Hyderabad: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) in Hyderabad on Monday, underscoring the growing US-India aerospace and defence partnership and India's expanding role in global aerospace manufacturing.

Gor toured TLMAL's production line for empennages, or tail sections, of the C-130J Super Hercules.

The facility highlights the established capability of Indian industry to support the global C-130J programme and scale production for the recently released Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) requirement.

"The decades-long business partnership between the United States and India continues to grow stronger through innovation, shared security interests, and economic cooperation," Gor said. 

He added that seeing Indian employees and engineers produce critical structures for a platform operated by both countries "demonstrates the power of our partnership and special business relationship."

Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), said the partnership with Lockheed Martin had demonstrated its ability to deliver "world-class aerostructures" for key programmes, including the C-130J.

He said the cooperation has now expanded into maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), while both companies are exploring opportunities involving complete platforms under the "Make in India" initiative.

The TASL MRO facility is scheduled to open in December 2026, with aircraft arrivals planned for spring 2027.

Trish Pagan, Lockheed Martin vice president for Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, said the collaboration had established "world-class aerospace manufacturing capabilities" supporting the global C-130J operator network. "We remain committed to supporting India's aerospace vision," she said, including opportunities to expand advanced manufacturing and technology capabilities in the country.

Pagan said the companies' more than 15-year joint-venture relationship provides a strong foundation for the MTA opportunity. "We're excited for what's next," she said.