Tatas, Lockheed join hands

New Delhi: The Tata group will partner Lockheed Martin through subsidiary Tata Advanced Systems to make structurals for the C-130-J transport aircraft. The Tatas will hold a 74 per cent stake in the venture, to be based in Hyderabad, and Lockheed the rest.
Lockheed and the Tatas were tight-lipped about the scope of the venture.
However, sources said the venture would not make the usual spares such as doors and windows, which aviation sector joint ventures usually concentrate on. It will make components such as floorbeams and ribs, the main structure on which an aircraft stands.
The government today gave its go-ahead to the joint venture, officials said. The Lockheed C-130-J is a transport aircraft, which is favoured by the military but can be used for civil transportation too. Called the Super-Hercules, it’s a four-engine turbo-prop aircraft that can carry 64 fully armed troopers, or 74 patients with medical attendants or an armoured personnel carrier. Indian Air Force has recently ordered 10 C-130Js. These will be designed for use by paratroopers and special operation forces.
14/12/10 Jayanta Roy Chowdhury/The Telegraph

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Categories: Foreign Dec 2010, New Dec 2010