3 min readNew DelhiAug 30, 2023 10:17 AM IST
First published on: Aug 30, 2023 at 04:04 AM IST
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to revive the process of procuring six mid-air refuellers after failing to make any headway during two earlier attempts over the last two decades.
Highly placed Defence officials told The Indian Express that the request for proposal to procure six mid-air refuelling aircraft, also known as tankers, should be floated within six months to invite bids from interested Defence majors.
This is the IAF’s third attempt since 2007 to buy the tankers. Two of its earlier tenders were scrapped due to pricing disputes.
Officials said the IAF is looking to procure six “pre-owned” aircraft — these can be modified into tankers — to meet its requirement of refuellers so that they can serve for 25 to 30 years.
An IAF IL-78 MKI carries out air-to-air refuelling. (@IAF_MCC)
“Several global companies will let go of their older aircraft models in the next three to four years as they make the transition to advanced aircraft with new engines. There will be an adequate number of pre-owned aircraft available in the market which can be modified into tankers,” a Defence official said.
The IAF is looking for an Indian maintenance partner for the tankers.
Once inducted, the refuellers will fill a critical capability gap in the IAF’s inventory and will prove to be a vital strategic asset and force multiplier as they will allow fighter aircraft to stay airborne longer.
The six aircraft will be procured in addition to another tanker which the IAF would take on lease from interested global vendors to meet its training needs, the process for which has already been initiated. The IAF also provides limited refuelling efforts to the Navy’s MiG-29K fighter aircraft.
“It might take two to three years to start the deliveries of the tankers. Meanwhile, the one tanker to be leased will be used for immediate training requirements of the force,” the official said, adding that it cannot, however, be used in operations.
Currently, the IAF operates a fleet of six Russian IIyushin-78 tankers procured in 2003-04, but at any given time only three to four are serviceable. Their maintenance and serviceability issues were also brought out 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 need to procure six additional tankers – in line with the IAF’s laid down long-term procurement plans – have significantly gone up in the last few years as the force looks to induct a range of fighter aircraft with the capability of receiving fuel in air to build up its depleting number of squadrons.
The Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport and the Ilyushin Il-78 had both fought in the past to secure a contract.
Last year, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) also signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert the Boeing-767 passenger aircraft into tankers in India.
An IAF IL-78 MKI carries out air-to-air refuelling. (Image source: @IAF_MCC) 
An IAF IL-78 MKI carries out air-to-air refuelling. (@IAF_MCC)
Share
