IAF moves for mid-air refuellers, Israel firm in partnership with HAL emerges as the frontrunner

India currently uses six Russian IIyushin-78 tankers for refuelling, first inducted in 2003, but they are facing maintenance and serviceability issues.

India had last month got its first leased Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker mid-air refueller | Credit: Metrea

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a tender for six mid-air refuelling aircraft—all of which will be converted passenger jets—with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and its Indian partner Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) emerging as early frontrunners, ThePrint has learnt.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said that the Request for Proposal (RFP) was sent out to multiple companies last month, including the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who have their own dedicated tanker line.

The IAF’s overall requirement is for around 12 refuellers, with procurement likely to be split into two programmes.

The current RFP, issued last month, covers six converted refuellers, under which a commercial passenger aircraft will be modified into a tanker. A separate RFP for brand-new refuellers is expected to follow.

The RFP comes with a 30 percent Make in India clause which industry sources explained will deter OEMs because the numbers are too small to meet such obligations.

India currently uses six Russian IIyushin-78 tankers, first inducted in 2003, but they are facing maintenance and serviceability issues.

India had last month got its first leased Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker mid-air refueller. This is a fully wet lease, as reported by ThePrint, the aircraft will be flown, manned and maintained by pilots and crew belonging to the lessor, American firm Metrea Management.

It was in April 2022 that HAL and IAI entered into an MoU to convert civil (passenger) aircraft into multi-mission tanker transport (MMTT) aircraft in India.

Under the pact, HAL will convert civil aircraft into mid-air refuelling aircraft with cargo and transport capabilities.

The aircraft that will be converted is the Boeing 767 passenger aircraft, which is also used by the Italian and Japanese militaries.

Boeing has a specialised tanker called KC-46 Pegasus, which is a variant of the Boeing 767. The conversion of passenger aircraft into cargo and tankers has been a lucrative business for IAI, which has emerged as a key player in this business.

Mid-air refuelling has been a critical capability gap for the IAF. This technology gives a fighter jet the ability to cover enhanced distances without having to land to refuel.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)