Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is an Indian aerospace manufacturing,

military engineering Military engineering is loosely defined as the art, science, and practice of designing and building military works and maintaining lines of military transport and military communications. Military engineers are also responsible for logistics b ...

and defense technology company. It is a fully owned subsidiary of

Tata Sons Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. is the holding company of the Tata Group, headquartered in Mumbai. It owns the bulk of shareholding in the Tata group of companies including their land holdings across India, tea estates and steel plants, and derives its reve ...

, a holding company for the

Tata Group The Tata Group () is an Indian multinational conglomerate group of companies headquartered in Mumbai. Established in 1868, it is India's largest business conglomerate, with products and services in over 160 countries, and operations in 100 c ...

History

TASL entered into a joint venture with

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Sikorsky Aircraft is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. It was established by the Russian-American aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923, and was among the first companies to manufacture helicopters for civilian ...

to manufacture the

Sikorsky S-92 The Sikorsky S-92 is an American twin-engine medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the civil and military helicopter markets. The S-92 was developed from the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter and has similar parts such as flight control ...

helicopter A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which Lift (force), lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning Helicopter rotor, rotors. This allows the helicopter to VTOL, take off and land vertically, to hover (helicopter), hover, and ...

in India for the domestic civil and military markets. The plan was to have a US$200 million manufacturing plant operational in

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

by 2010.Tata-Sikorsky Deal Ends HAL Aerospace Monopoly – Defense News
/ref> As production began, the first S-92 cabin was delivered in November 2010, and capacity was expected to increase to 36–48 cabins a year.Sikorsky may make choppers at Hyderabad – Money – DNA
/ref> By the end of July 2013, 39 cabins had been assembled. The joint venture with Sikorsky has since been expanded to include the development of aerospace components for other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This facility, called Tara, also located in Hyderabad, was completed in 2011 and commenced production in 2012. Another TASL joint-venture, with

Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American Arms industry, defense and aerospace manufacturer with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta on March 15, 1995. It is headquartered in North ...

, is producing aero structures for the

Lockheed C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 w ...

and the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules in India. It is a 74:26 joint venture which currently assembles Hercules centre wing boxes and

empennage The empennage ( or ), also known as the tail or tail assembly, is a structure at the rear of an aircraft that provides stability during flight, in a way similar to the feathers on an arrow.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third ed ...

s. TASL will also establish a MRO facility in India of the C-130J. TASL's joint venture with Lockheed Martin is named Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures. In partnership with

Airbus Defence and Space Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus SE. Formed in 2014 in the restructuring of European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS), Airbus SE comprises the former Airbus Military, Astrium, and divisions. Contributing 21% of Airbus reven ...

, the company fielded the

EADS CASA C-295 The Airbus C295 (previously CASA C-295) is a medium tactical transport aircraft that was designed and initially manufactured by the Spanish aerospace company CASA, which is now part of the European multinational Airbus Defence and Space divi ...

medium–lift tactical transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force's light-cargo fleet renewal program, which the Indian government approved on 13 May 2015. Under the agreement, Tata Advanced Systems has been selected as the Indian Production Agency (IPA) by Airbus DS. Under the project 16 complete aircraft will be imported, while 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India. The Final Assembly Line (FAL) complex was inaugurated in October 2024. The first ‘Make in India’ C295 will roll out of the Vadodara FAL in September 2026. The company has also entered an agreement to produce structures for the Pilatus PC-12NG from 2016 to 2026.Trautvetter, Chad.
Pilatus Taps India's Tata To Make PC-12 Aerostructures
" ''AINonline'', 26 August 2014. Accessed: 4 September 2014. The aerospace and military division of

Tata Motors Tata Motors Limited is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive company, headquartered in Mumbai and part of the Tata Group. The company produces passenger cars, cars, trucks, vans, and busses, buses. T ...

was sold to Tata Advanced Systems on May 3, 2018. Lockheed Martin declared in September 2018 that, in partnership with TASL, it would manufacture wings for the

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superio ...

. Inaugurated in 2018, the

facility of Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), a joint venture between

Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...

and Tata Advanced Systems, will serve as the exclusive global manufacturer of fuselages for

AH-64 Apache The Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing AH-64 Apache ( ) is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. Nose-mounted sensors help acquire targets and provide night vis ...

helicopters supplied by Boeing to its clientele worldwide. On 10th February 2025, TBAL delivered the 300th fuselage for the AH-64 Apache from its facility in

. In 2018, TASL established the Tata Centre of Excellence for Aero Engines to manufacture LEAP engine components in India for

CFM International CFM International is a Franco-American aircraft engine manufacturer. The company is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines (formerly known as Snecma) and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was founded in 1974 to bu ...

, a joint venture between

GE Aerospace General Electric Company, doing business as GE Aerospace, is an American aircraft engine supplier that is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, outside Cincinnati. It is the legal successor to the original General Electric Company founded in 1892, w ...

and

Safran Aircraft Engines Safran Aircraft Engines, previously Snecma (''Société nationale d'études et de construction de moteurs d'aviation'') or Snecma Moteurs, is a French aerospace engine manufacturer headquartered in Courcouronnes and a subsidiary of Safran. It de ...

. Tata Power SED was purchased by Tata Advanced Systems from

Tata Power Tata Power Company Limited is an Indian electric utility and electricity generation company based in Mumbai, India and is part of the Tata Group. With an installed electricity generation capacity of 14,707 MW out of which 5847 MW is from Non-C ...

in 2020. In early 2021, it was reported that Tata Advanced Systems of India had likely bought the intellectual property rights of the Grob G180 SPn aircraft for the development of a military variant to be offered to the Indian army as a signals intelligence gathering and surveillance platform. In February 2021,

announced that they are teaming with Tata Advanced Systems for meeting the Indian Navy's proposed requirement for Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH). In September 2021 India has signed deal of buying C-295 Cargo aircraft and that will be made by Tata Advanced System. In 2022, TASL and GE Aerospace extended their long-term contract for the production and supply of various commercial aircraft engine components, which are to be manufactured at the Tata Centre of Excellence for Aero Engines. In 2024, Tata Advanced Systems announced that the company and Lockheed Martin are looking at further opportunities in India. This includes establishing a

maintenance, repair and overhaul Aircraft maintenance is the performance of tasks required to ensure the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft or aircraft part, including overhaul, inspection, replacement, defect rectification, and the embodiment of modifications, compliance ...

(MRO) facility in India to support the IAF's fleet of 12 C-130Js and other global Super Hercules fleets. It also includes expanding the C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India to produce aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft program, which subject to U.S. government and Indian government approvals. Following an armored vehicle contract from the

Royal Moroccan Armed Forces The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces () are the military forces of the Kingdom of Morocco. They consist of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Royal Gendarmerie, and the Royal Guard. The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces have experience in counter-ins ...

in 2024, Tata Advanced Systems will establish a plant in

Casablanca Casablanca (, ) is the largest city in Morocco and the country's economic and business centre. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Chaouia (Morocco), Chaouia plain in the central-western part of Morocco, the city has a populatio ...

. The first WhAPs are expected to be rolled out in 18 months, with the intention of catering to the broader African market. The production facility, which will be operational within a year, will be able to produce 100 combat vehicles yearly. In December 2024, TASL doubled the company's landholding in

Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...

’s MIHAN SEZ to 60 acres for expanding its aerospace manufacturing operations. TASL's existing Nagpur facility manufactures aircraft floor beams for both Boeing and Airbus at the same facility. In April 2025, the company acquired land in Karnataka's Vemgal Industrial Area for setting up a final assembly line for aircraft manufacturing and MRO. Four production transfer agreements were signed on 5 June 2025, between

Dassault Aviation Dassault Aviation SA () is a French Aerospace manufacturer, manufacturer of military aircraft and business jets. It was founded in 1929 by Marcel Dassault, Marcel Bloch as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch (Marcel Bloch Aircraft Company). After ...

and Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture the

Rafale The Dassault Rafale (, literally meaning "gust of wind", or "burst of fire" in a more military sense) is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Equipped with a wide range ...

fighter aircraft fuselage in Hyderabad. This includes the front section, the central fuselage, the rear fuselage, and the lateral shells of the rear fuselage for India and other international markets.

Major programs

*License production of the C-295 in a JV with

. *Design, development and production of the TATA Kestrel for

Indian Army The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...

. * Upgradation and modernization of 37 airfields across Air Force Stations, Naval Stations, and Coast Guard Civil Enclaves. *Production and maintenance of the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket launchers, command posts and other support vehicles for

. *Production and Maintenance of the Akash SAM launchers, command posts and other support vehicles for IAF. *Production and maintenance of the MRSAM launchers, command posts and other support vehicles for IAF. *Production and maintenance of the control systems for the

Arihant-class submarine The ''Arihant''-class () is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in service with Indian Navy. They were developed under the ''Advanced Technology Vessel'' (ATV) project to design and build nuclear-powered submarines. These ...

. *Production and development of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System for

*Design, development and production of the Portable Diver Detection Sonar. *Production and maintenance for the PDV Mk-II launcher. *Development of the Advanced Loitering System-250 (ALS-250), a

kamikaze drone A loitering munition, also known as a suicide drone, kamikaze drone, or exploding drone, is a weapon with a warhead that is typically designed to loiter until a target is designated, then crash into it.

with a range of 250 km with high payload capacity for munitions like anti-tank warhead. *Development of the unmanned medium-altitude long-endurance UAV variant of the Grob G180 SPn.

Products and services

Military vehicles

* Tata LSV (Light Specialist Vehicle) * Tata Mine Protected Vehicle (4×4) * Tata 2 Stretcher Ambulance * Tata 407 Troop Carrier * Tata SA 1212 Troop Carrier * Tata LPTA 713 TC (4x4) * Tata LPT 709 E * Tata SD 1015 TC (4x4) * Tata LPTA 1615 TC (4x4) * Tata LPTA 1615 TC (4x2) * Tata LPTA 1621 TC (6x6) * Tata LPTA 5252 TC (12x12) * Tata 207 * TATA Kestrel

UAVs

TASL is bidding to develop and build

unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers onboard, but rather is controlled remotely or is autonomous.De Gruyter Handbook of Dron ...

s (UAVs) for the

Indian Armed Forces The Indian Armed Forces are the armed forces, military forces of the India, Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Ar ...

for surveillance. It has agreements with

Israel Aerospace Industries Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI; ), is Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both military and civilian usage. It has 14,000 employees as of 2021. IAI is state-owned by the government ...

(IAI) and "Urban Aeronautics" for cooperation and co-development of UAVs in India. It has developed and successfully flight tested a long-range kamikaze drone known as ALS-50 which can strike beyond ranges of 50 km and turn back in case of an abandoned mission and will soon be in use by the Indian armed forces.

Rajak

TASL developed Rajak-XLR an enhanced variant of Rajak-ULR for the Regiment of Artillery. It consists of a long-range continuous zoom-type thermal camera, a long-range continuous zoom-type day camera, and a laser rangefinder for analyzing the distance of the target. The system can detect vehicles within a range of 50 km including the type and humans within 40 km.

Lanza-N radar

TASL licence-manufactures Lanza-N

L-band The L band is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designation for the range of Frequency, frequencies in the radio spectrum from 1 to 2 gigahertz (GHz). This is at the top end of the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, at t ...

air surveillance radars for the frontline warships of the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy (IN) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Navy, maritime and Amphibious warfare, amphibious branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff (India), Chief ...

. The radar is originally manufactured by

Indra Sistemas Indra Sistemas, S.A. () is a Spanish information technology and defense company. Indra is listed on the Bolsa de Madrid and is a constituent of the IBEX 35 index. The current executive chairman is Ángel Escribano. In 2018 and 2019 Indra was fi ...

. Indian Navy ordered 23 such radars from the Spanish firm. The first 3 units were directly delivered by Indra while the rest of 20 units will be manufactured in India. It was reported that INS Mysore has been retrofitted with the radar.

Satellites

TASL built TSAT-1A at the Vemagal facility in

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

in collaboration with Satellogic. It is the first private-sector-owned sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite in India. the satellite was launched aboard SpaceX's

Falcon 9 Falcon 9 is a Reusable launch system#Partial reusable launch systems, partially reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, medium-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured in the United States by SpaceX. The first Falcon 9 launch was on June 4, 2010, an ...

Bandwagon-1 mission on 7th April 2024 at 23:16 GMT. TASL signed a deal with Satellogic, a US-based LEO satellite manufacturer, to build a production facility in India for LEO satellites.

References

External links

* {{Tata Group Tata Group Defence companies of India Aerospace companies of India Manufacturing companies based in Hyderabad, India Indian companies established in 2007 2007 establishments in Andhra Pradesh Manufacturing companies established in 2004