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Lockheed Martin's Indian University Design Challenge: Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Lockheed Martin's Indian University Design Challenge, launched in November 2014, brought together students from top Indian universities to develop innovative solutions for the C-130J Super Hercules cargo aircraft. The challenge provided students with research grants, engineering expertise, and mentorship from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop design specifications for proposed modules. The Indian Air Force (IAF), which operates a fleet of five C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, collaborated with Lockheed Martin to identify potential solutions for enhancing the versatility of the C-130 fleet.

Key Takeaways:

  • Five Indian universities, including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IIT Chennai, Delhi Technological University (DTU), University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), and Birla Institute of Technological Studies (BITS) Pilani-Goa Campus, participated in the design challenge.
  • Lockheed Martin provided each team with engineering, technical, and business development expertise to develop design specifications for proposed modules that could be used on C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
  • The company will award three of the teams a second-year grant in 2016 to develop a prototype of their module and additional mentoring to develop a go-to-market strategy.
  • The design challenge is part of Lockheed Martin's larger commitment to enhance the growth and development of India's innovation and entrepreneurial pursuits, with the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) being a successful example.
  • The IAF has contracted to receive an additional six C-130Js through a Foreign Military Sale with the U.S. government.
  • Indian Air Force C-130Js played an active role in recent disaster relief operations, including the Uttrakhand floods and Nepal Earthquake.

Statistics:

  • 2,500 C-130s have been delivered to operators around the world.
  • Fiscal year 2014 saw Lockheed Martin's net sales reach $45.6 billion.
  • The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of five C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
  • Lockheed Martin employs approximately 112,000 people worldwide.

Sources:

  • "Lockheed Martin supports Indian Air Force C-130J fleet since 2008." (Quote from Abhay Paranjape, director of Air Mobility Business Development for India at Lockheed Martin)
  • M2 Communications, M2 PressWIRE, December 2014.
  • Lockheed Martin Annual Report, 2014.
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IIT Chennai, Delhi Technological University (DTU), University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), and Birla Institute of Technological Studies (BITS) Pilani-Goa Campus official websites.

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