Defence Procurement Board Authorizes Acquisition of 60 Medium Transport Aircraft for Indian Air Force

The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) has approved a plan to purchase 60 medium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), marking a significant step in the effort to update its tactical airlift capabilities.

This initiative, with an estimated cost of approximately ₹1 lakh crore, will proceed under the "Buy and Make" approach. According to defence sources, 12 of these aircraft will be procured in a ready-to-fly condition, while the remaining 48 will be produced domestically through partnerships with Indian industry.

The new aircraft are set to replace the Antonov An-32 fleet, which was introduced in the mid-1980s and now faces challenges in maintenance and parts availability. They are also expected to take on some duties currently handled by the older Il-76 transport aircraft, thereby optimizing the IAF's transport operations.

The medium transport aircraft are designed to fill the gap between light and heavy-lift aircraft, supporting the IAF in troop deployment, equipment movement, and operations in difficult terrains. They must be capable of functioning in high-altitude environments and from short or semi-prepared runways, such as the Advanced Landing Grounds in Ladakh and the Northeast.

The Eastern Ladakh military standoff underscored the importance of airlift capabilities in maintaining forces in remote high-altitude regions where surface movement is challenging.

Sources indicate that the program could see competition from three key contenders. Brazil’s Embraer, in collaboration with Mahindra Defence, offers the C-390 Millennium, a jet-powered aircraft with a payload capacity of around 26 tonnes.

Lockheed Martin's entry, the C-130J Super Hercules, is already operational within the IAF and enjoys an existing logistics framework and manufacturing tie-up with Tata Advanced Systems.

Airbus presents the A400M Atlas, a larger aircraft capable of carrying over 30 tonnes, albeit exceeding the current requirements of the IAF.

Officials emphasize that the final choice will consider not only operational prowess but also factors like technology transfer, local production, and long-term maintenance infrastructure, aligning with India's focus on boosting domestic defence manufacturing.

Following the DPB's nod, the proposal is set to advance to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), prior to moving into the tendering and evaluation stages.