TLMAL indigenously produces F-16 fighter wing at Hyderabad facility

Source : Telangana Today

Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) built F-16 fighter wing

 US-headquartered security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin Corporation has formally recognised Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) as a potential future co-producer of fighter wings. TLMAL’s Hyderabad facility indigenously produced the first fighter wing shipset.

KT Rama Rao, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Telangana, along with other government officials, Lockheed martin Aeronautics and Global Business Development executives, and Tata Advanced Systems Limited and TLML leadership attended a ceremonial event to mark the production of first fighter wing prototype at the TLMAL facility at Adibatla, Hyderabad.

Speaking about the milestone, Lockheed Martin VP Strategy and Business Development Aimee Burnett, said, Lockheed Martin partnered with TLMAL to build one of the most technologically complex aerostructures- interchangeable and replaceable fighter wing.

She added, “This effort represents Lockheed Martin demonstrating to India, and to the world, the degree of confidence that exists in our relationships with our partners in India. Lockheed Martin is one of the only aerospace and defence companies with a complex aerostructure capability for advanced fighters in India.”

Lockheed Martin and TLMAL entered into an agreement to develop a F-16 fighter wing prototype in 2018. Through the project, TLMAL demonstrated the capability to perform detailed part manufacturing and delivery of a fully compliant representative fighter aircraft wing shipset.

This will further strengthen Lockheed Martin’s partnership with India and support its F-21 offering for procurement of 114 new fighter aircraft for India and the Indian Air Force by providing additional indigenous production capability.

Sukaran Singh, MD and CEO, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said, “The successful completion of the fighter wing shipset prototype project is another achievement added to the partnership between Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin.”

It is pertinent to note that TLMAL recently delivered the 150th C-130J empennage for Super Hercules aircraft from its Hyderabad facility.