Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL), a joint venture of Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin, has delivered the first indigenously-built Centre Wing Box (CWB) of the C-130 Hercules aircraft to Lockheed Martin here on Friday.
TLMAL chairman S Ramadorai handed over the CWB to the vice-president and general manager of Lockheed Martin, George Shultz at their manufacturing unit in Adibatla in Ranga Reddy District.
Chief minister N Kiran kumar Reddy was also present on the occasion.
“We have delivered six Hercules by December 15 last year and are looking forward for India to place order for six more, which will feature ‘Made-in-India’ parts,” Schultz said.
Incidentally, the Indian Government has shown interest in procuring six more C-130 aircraft as the chiefs of the defence forces were reportedly impressed with performance of the C-130s in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Negotiations between India and US are under progress in that regard. The central wing box sits atop the fuselage and forms the attachment point for both wings and all four engines of the C 130.
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy hailed the delivery of the indigenously- built centre wing box as a ‘landmark’ in the aviation history of the India.
He congratulated TLMAL officials for their achievement and expressed satisfaction over the growth of aviation industry in and around Hyderabad.