US-based aeronautics company Lockheed Martin signed MoUs with three Indian start-ups – Terero Mobility, Sastra Robotics, and NoPo Nanotechnologies – giving them entry into its supply chain and further strengthening India’s aerospace sector and India-US ties. The MoUs were inked at the end of three days joint Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) third annual “Suppliers Conference” held in New Delhi recently. Three start-ups who are graduates of the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) will also contribute to the evolution of both the Indian and global aerospace & defence industry.
Vivek Lall, Vice President for Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, said, “Through these agreements, we look to provide engineering support, mentoring, and assistance in the qualification of some of the technologies proposed, all of which contribute to our mission of making in India.”
Under the MoU, Terero Mobility will work on design development, test and qualification of the Cargo Ground Buildup System (CGBS) for Fixed and Rotary wing aircraft. Also, a product originally developed through a Lockheed Martin sponsored University R&D project at IIT Madras, this vehicle will enable the handling of cargo delivered by transport aircraft at different locations. Lockheed Martin will provide system engineering support and mentoring to this start-up. This will enable them to not only develop but to deliver a vehicle that has the capability of being transported by C-130 and similar platforms.
The NoPo Nanotechnologies will work for qualification of As-Produced, Purified and Metallic Sorted HiPCO Carbon Nanotubes to provide electromagnetic interference and lightning protection. The successful qualification of NoPo HiPCOTM Carbon Nanotubes based composite would enable the company to be a supplier to Lockheed Martin and other Tier-1 OEMs.
Sastra Robotics’ scope will be for testing out of robots produced by the company for Avionics testing. According to the aerospace giant these products can help in the testing of avionics display of tactical fighter platforms including the F-21. The US company has been present in India for over three decades and has been in recent years fully supported the national “Make in India”, “Skills India”, “Startup India” and “Swachh Bharat” missions.
US-based Lockheed Martin is already manufacturing sophisticated aerospace structures in Hyderabad, in partnership with TASL, which include entire cabin structures for Sikorsky helicopters (S-92 multi-role helicopter) and structures for C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.
The Company had earlier announced the production line from Fort Worth, Texas will be moved to India and under the joint venture with TASL will be built here, depending on the order of Indian Air Force if it opts for the F-21, which will also witness a boost in domestic manufacturing.
