Scouting for 6 mid-air refuellers, IAF begins technical evaluation

“The technical evaluation stage is currently underway,” an official said, adding that the mid-air refuellers fielded by the three to four firms are under consideration.

Once finalised, an Indian maintenance partner for these tankers will likely be sought.

The IAF currently operates a fleet of six Ilyushin Il-78MKI tankers procured from Uzbekistan in 2003-04.

In February 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the procurement of another six mid-air refuellers.

In 2023, The Indian Express reported that the IAF was looking to procure six “pre-owned” aircraft which could be modified into tankers to meet its tanker requirement for 25-30 years.

In March this year, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Metrea Management – it’s a US-based private entity which specialises in air-to-air refuelling solutions – for wet leasing of one flight refuelling aircraft (FRA) for providing air-to-air refuelling training to pilots of IAF and Indian Navy.

The Ministry said that Metrea would provide FRA (KC-135 aircraft) within six months – it would be the first FRA to be wet leased by IAF.

It is not immediately clear whether all companies in the fray have pitched pre-owned aircraft for the contract.

This is the IAF’s third attempt since 2007 to buy the tankers. Two of its earlier tenders were cancelled due to pricing disputes.

The idea behind opening the door for buying pre-owned aircraft as tankers was that many global companies would transition to advanced aircraft with new engines as they do away with their older aircraft models in the next few years, thus ensuring the availability of an adequate number of pre-owned aircraft in the market for modification into tankers.

FRAs would be a vital strategic asset and force multiplier for the Armed Forces as these allow fighter jets to stay airborne longer. The need to induct the tankers is significant and stem from the IAF’s long-term plans to induct a range of fighter jets capable of receiving fuel in air to add to its existing number of squadrons.

Of the IAF’s six existing II-78 tankers, procured in 2003-04, only three to four are serviceable at a time.

Their maintenance and serviceability issues were highlighted in an August 2017 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that studied their operations from 2010 to 2016.

The tankers were bought in 2003-2004 at Rs 132 crore per aircraft. The IAF also provides limited refuelling efforts to the Navy’s MiG-29K fighter jets.

In the past, the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport and the Ilyushin Il-78 had both fought to secure the contract.

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had also signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert Boeing 767 passenger aircraft into tankers in India.