AIROD Sdn Bhd, a leading Malaysian military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider and a subsidiary of National Aerospace and Defence Industries Sdn Bhd (NADI), hosted a reciprocal appreciation ceremony with Lockheed Martin Corporation, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the C-130 Hercules aircraft operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), at its facility in Subang.
The event commemorated a successful 40 years of enduring cooperation between both organisations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to sustaining the operational readiness, reliability, and long-term support of the global C-130 Hercules fleet.
AIROD was established in 1976 as Malaysia’s first in-country depot-level maintenance facility dedicated to supporting the RMAF C-130 Hercules and other aircraft types. Since its inception, AIROD has played a central role in ensuring fleet availability through comprehensive airframe, engine, avionics, structural, upgrade, and engineering support services.
Over the past five decades, the company has delivered heavy maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for more than one hundred and fifty (150) RMAF C-130 aircraft, contributing significantly to the operational readiness of Malaysia’s strategic airlift capability in support of military operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief missions, and national security requirements.
In 1984, AIROD was corporatised through a joint venture between Aerospace Industries Malaysia (now National Aerospace & Defence Industries – NADI) and Lockheed Aircraft Systems International (LASI), further strengthening technical cooperation and industrial collaboration between both organisations.
AIROD became a recognised Lockheed Martin Authorised Hercules Service Centre (HSC) on 12 November 1986 and became a wholly Malaysian-owned aerospace company in 1995. It is among the most extensively certified HSCs, with capabilities covering C-130 depot-level maintenance, landing gear repair and overhaul, fuselage stretch conversion, and air-to-air tanker conversion.
Today, the company provides sustainment support to both military and commercial operators worldwide, including across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and other international regions.
“The partnership between AIROD and Lockheed Martin is not only enduring but foundational to our success as a global MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) leader,” said Major General Dato Ir. Ibrahim bin Bahari, CEO of AIROD.
“For four decades, we have shared knowledge, technology, and commitment to excellence, ensuring the operational readiness of the C-130 fleet for Malaysia and our international clients.”
“Celebrating four decades of partnership with AIROD highlights the enduring strength of our collaboration and the shared commitment to keeping the C-130 Hercules fleet at the forefront of operational readiness,” said Mark Jarvis, Lockheed Martin Director and Program Manager, Air Mobility and Maritime Missions International Sustainment Programs.
“Together, we have built a foundation of trust, technical excellence, and innovation that supports Malaysia’s air capabilities and our global customers. As we look ahead, Lockheed Martin remains dedicated to deepening this relationship, expanding our commitment, and delivering the next generation of MRO solutions that will sustain the Hercules, ensuring readiness in the Pacific region and beyond.”
Over the course of its four-decade collaboration with Lockheed Martin, AIROD has expanded its technical capabilities and international footprint while continuing to support the RMAF C-130 fleet and other aircraft types. Building upon this strong domestic foundation, AIROD has broadened its support to numerous global operators of the C-130 platform.
Among its notable international engagements was the repair and maintenance support provided for the Royal Thai Air Force’s C-130 aircraft in 2011, following the severe flooding at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, which caused significant operational disruption.
In 2015, AIROD was also entrusted by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence to recover a major C-130 programme that had previously been abandoned under an earlier arrangement with an international MRO provider.
The company successfully completed the recovery and upgrade programme for five aircraft, which involved retrofit works, outer wing replacement, and major structural restoration, within the stipulated contractual timeline. The programme significantly enhanced the operational availability and extended the service life of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) fleet.
Between 1990 and 2005, AIROD supported the United States Air Force (USAF) Pacific Air Forces C-130H fleet through programmed depot maintenance, inspections, and structural repairs, covering more than 120 aircraft over a 15-year period.
From 2015 to 2019, the company also executed a five-year maintenance programme for the United States Marine Corps KC-130J fleet based in Iwakuni, Japan, which included scheduled and drop-in maintenance, landing gear replacement, and structural repair activities for 15 aircraft.
In addition to depot-level maintenance, AIROD has developed a Global Line Services (GLS) capability, deploying specialist teams internationally to support operators with crash recovery, battle damage repair, structural refurbishment, in-country technical assistance, and modification programmes.
These services have been delivered across multiple countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Libya, Mali, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Headquartered in Subang, Selangor, AIROD has served more than 76 customers across 35 countries and is recognised as one of the region’s leading aerospace MRO providers.
The company delivers a full spectrum of services, including heavy maintenance, upgrades, modifications, component support, engineering services, and global field operations for both military and commercial sectors.
Lockheed Martin is a global defence technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. The company is the OEM of the C-130 Hercules Tactical Airlifter, one of the most widely used military transport aircraft in the world.
