Kiran Dambala appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures

Kiran Dambala

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).

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

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

“I am honored to lead TLMAL during this defining period of advancement in India’s defense capabilities. We will continue to support the Indian government’s vision of further developing India’s indigenous defense capabilities under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ programs,” Mr. Dambala said. “I look forward to building on the great work done by Mr. 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.

Mr. Dambala brings a wealth of relevant experience to TLMAL that spans 25 years across multiple industries. A Lockheed Martin employee since 2002, Mr. 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, Mr. Dambala worked in the internet startup, banking, and shipping industries. His responsibilities primarily involved business analysis, planning, and product design and development of IT solutions for end-users.

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