New Delhi: Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL), a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, has appointed Kiran Dambala as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Dambala assumes this position from the outgoing COO Abhay Paranjape, who has retired after 35 years of distinguished service with Lockheed Martin.

A Lockheed Martin veteran since 2002, Dambala will provide strategic oversight to TLMAL’s business and manufacturing activities while ensuring alignment with planned strategies and commitments.

“I am honoured to lead TLMAL during this defining period of advancement in India’s defence capabilities. We will continue to support the Indian government’s vision of further developing India’s indigenous defence capabilities under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ programmes,” Dambala in a statement said. “I look forward to building on the great work done by Paranjape and wish him the best for the coming days.”

Established in 2010, TLMAL is the single global source of C-130J Super Hercules empennage assemblies and employs 500 people. In 2018, Lockheed Martin announced that TLMAL will produce fighter wings and this work is currently underway at the Hyderabad facility.

Dambala brings a wealth of relevant experience to TLMAL that spans 25 years across multiple industries. A Lockheed Martin employee since 2002, Dambala was most recently the program manager for modifications and upgrades in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II program. He was the primary contact for all domestic and international F-35 customers on modifications and upgrades to meet customers’ capability milestones.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Dambala worked in Internet start-up, banking, and shipping industries. His responsibilities primarily involved business analysis, planning, product design and development of IT solutions for end-users.

C-130 empennage assemblies produced by TLMAL include the aircraft’s horizontal and vertical stabilisers along with leading edges and tip assemblies. The TLMAL team also previously manufactured sets of C-130J centre wing box components, and is also home to a cutting-edge 4,700-square metre metal-to-metal bonding facility.