Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures (TLMAL) has opened a 4,700m² metal-to-metal bonding facility in Hyderabad, India.

TLMAL is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Lockheed Martin.

The facility will enable TASL to use metal-to-metal bonding technology across its manufacturing programmes for complex aerostructures.

Promoting the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the facility will initially employ more than 80 skilled workers, planning to hire more employees in future.

“Given the C-130J’s worldwide presence, it is fitting that one of its core components is the result of a strong global partnership that we have with India, Tata and TLMAL.”

The facility is also set to deliver more locally produced parts to Lockheed Martin’s C-130 aircraft, including 2,000 empennage parts. These were previously provided to the Tata Sikorsky Aerospace joint venture from outside India.

New skilled job opportunities and on-the-job training at the facility are aimed at supporting the government’s ‘Skills India’ initiative.

Lockheed Martin Air Mobility and Maritime Missions vice-president and general manager George Shultz said: “Given the C-130J’s worldwide presence, it is fitting that one of its core components is the result of a strong global partnership that we have with India, Tata and TLMAL.

“The TLMAL team continues to exceed expectations in terms of quality of work and in meeting delivery commitments.”

With a workforce of 500, TLMAL currently manufactures 24 C-130 empennages annually. So far, the company has provided 85 of them for Lockheed Martin’s global customers, including the Indian Air Force.

Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 400 C-130Js to operators based in 18 countries worldwide.