The Tata Group, which in recent months has made some bold moves into India's aviation industry, is in talks with the country’s airport regulator to establish an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit. “Currently, the group is trying to get space for the MRO operations and is in discussion with the Airport Authority of India, which manages the majority of the country’s airports to secure its permission,” a government spokesman says.

India is likely to sign a deal to purchase six additional C-130J air lifters from the U.S. in the current financial year, which ends March 31, 2014. The Defense Acquisition Council, under the Ministry of Defense, has cleared the purchase of the Lockheed Martin-built medium transport aircraft under a government-to-government foreign military sale agreement worth more than $1 billion.

The Tata conglomerate has signed a deal with Singapore Airlines plans to launch a full service airline in India, seven months after forming a partnership with Malaysia’s AirAsia to start a low-cost carrier. Under a memorandum of understanding signed Sept. 19, Tata will own 51% of the new airline, while the Singaporean operator will hold the remaining 49%, a Tata spokesman says.