MRO facility for C-130J Super Hercules to come up in Bengaluru, expects first aircraft in 2027

Mr. Jindal
3 Min Read

A C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft at Hindon Air Force Station, in Uttar Pradesh.

A C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft at Hindon Air Force Station, in Uttar Pradesh.
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy

A new defence Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility to support the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft will be established in Bengaluru.

On December 8, Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin announced the groundbreaking of the new MRO. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026 and the facility expects to receive the first C130 for MRO operations in early 2027.

Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems, and Frank St. John, Chief Operating Officer, Lockheed Martin at the ground-breaking ceremony of Tata Advanced Systems C-130 Defence MRO Facility in Bengaluru, on December 8, 2025.

Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems, and Frank St. John, Chief Operating Officer, Lockheed Martin at the ground-breaking ceremony of Tata Advanced Systems C-130 Defence MRO Facility in Bengaluru, on December 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The MRO facility will join the existing global network of Lockheed Martin Certified Service Centers and will be strategically located to service the C-130J Super Hercules, KC-130J and C-130 B-H legacy aircraft in the future.

The C‑130 MRO facility is located at Bhatramarenahalli near the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). It will provide depot‑level and heavy maintenance, component repair, overhaul, and structural checks and testing, structural restoration and avionics upgrades, expanded training for Indian engineers and maintainers, and new opportunities for Indian suppliers across the C‑130 supply chain.

Frank St. John, Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin, said, “Today’s groundbreaking reflects how far our collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems and India has come, and where we’re headed together. For more than seven decades, we’ve grown alongside India’s expanding aerospace and defence industrial base. This new C-130 MRO facility strengthens that foundation. It brings world-class sustainment capability into India, improves readiness for the Indian Air Force, and creates opportunities that will support regional and global C-130 operators. We remain committed to building capability for India and from India for decades to come.”

Rod McLean, vice-president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, said, “The C-130J Super Hercules is a proven workhorse for India’s military and humanitarian missions.This defence MRO facility will bolster response time and security in the Pacific, ensure world-class sustainment capability within India, aligning with the country’s ambitions while advancing sustainment capability for the C-130J fleet across the globe.”

Share This Article
Leave a Comment