WING OVER

Manufacture of F-16 fighter wings in India, showcases Tata Group's growing prowess in the aerospace domain

The recent qualification of the first F-16 fighter wing built in India by Tata-Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL), a Joint Venture (JV) between Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Lockheed Martin showcases the rapid strides being made by the Tata Group in the aerospace sector. This manufacture of an F-16 fighter wing approved to stringent military aviation standards is one of several firsts for Tata group entities, many of whom have running contracts for supply of large aerostructures to global OEMs as single source suppliers.

The Tata Group has been rapidly growing its capability to manufacture increasingly complex aerostructures as evidenced by several of its other projects for platforms such as Sikorsky S-92, Lockheed Martin C-130J, Boeing AH64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook. TASL's newly demonstrated ability to build a prototype F-16 fighter wing, will allow it the opportunity to become part of the F-16 global supply chain. Sukaran Singh, MD and CEO, TASL, said, "The successful completion of the fighter wing shipset prototype project by TLMAL has created a new benchmark in complex and endto-end defence manufacturing in India that demands utmost precision and quality in all aspects of the process."

F-16 Fighter Wing