Embraer and Lockheed Martin vie for India’s $10.5 billion contract — Defense News
Brazil’s Embraer and U.S.-based Lockheed Martin are competing for an Indian Air Force contract to supply 60 medium transport aircraft worth about $10.5 billion. Both companies are offering to expand production in India. Under the tender terms, the first aircraft must be delivered flight-ready, while the rest must be manufactured in the country, Defense News reports.
Embraer is offering India the C-390 Millennium, while Lockheed Martin is offering the C-130J Super Hercules. The new aircraft are intended to replace India’s aging transport aviation fleet, which includes Soviet-made An-32s.
Production in Nagpur
On October 1, Embraer and its Indian partner Mahindra Defence announced that they had identified Nagpur in central India as a potential location for C-390 production if they win the tender. The companies said they intend to gradually involve Indian aerospace enterprises in aircraft production, training and technical support throughout the aircraft’s life cycle.
Lockheed Martin already has a production base in India together with Tata Advanced Systems Limited. Key C-130J components, including tail assemblies, are manufactured there. The U.S. company is offering the Indian Air Force the C-130J-30 modification in the Block 8.1.2 configuration, which it calls more advanced than the 12 C-130Js already in service with the country.
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Tender terms
If Lockheed Martin wins, it plans to build 12 aircraft in the United States and another 48 in India in partnership with Tata. The company has also proposed upgrading India’s existing fleet of 12 C-130Js.
India requires that the local production share within the project be at least 40%. The aircraft must be capable of operating at high altitudes and from temporary or unpaved runways. These requirements are linked, in particular, to India’s Himalayan borders with Pakistan and China. The aircraft will be used to transport military personnel, equipment and ammunition, as well as for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
India sent requests for proposals to five local companies in August. Applications will be accepted until early December, after which they will be assessed according to technical criteria.
