The Defence Ministry has issued a tender worth about Rs 1 lakh crore to procure 60 multirole transport aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force, a move aimed at replacing the service’s ageing cargo fleet. The tender, officials said, prioritises domestic industry participation and local manufacturing to bolster India’s strategic airlift capability.
Defence officials told ANI that the request for proposals has been issued to multiple Indian companies, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tata and Mahindra. “In the programme, Indian companies would be in the lead role,” the officials said.
Mahindra Defence has partnered with Brazil’s Embraer to offer the C-390 transport aircraft, while Tata has teamed up with Lockheed Martin to propose the C-130, a type already used by the IAF for special operations. The tender allows original equipment manufacturers to form joint ventures with Indian firms for local production.
Under the plan, roughly 20 percent of the aircraft would join the IAF in fly-away condition, with the remaining 80 percent manufactured in India and incorporating more than 60 percent indigenous content. Production is expected to take place through joint ventures between Indian companies and the OEMs, with HAL named as a domestic partner in the programme.
The IAF currently operates 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and is separately working with Airbus to induct about 70 C-295 transport planes, the majority of which are to be produced in India. Officials also said the new MTA fleet could double as aerial tankers for in-flight refuelling, in addition to rapid troop and equipment movement.
The tender complements other modernisation efforts: the IAF has issued a tender for 114 Rafale fighters and is planning to acquire more than 100 trainer aircraft to replace Hawk trainers and expand pilot training capacity.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-floats-rs-1-lakh-crore-tender-for-60-transport-aircraft-to-replace-ageing-iaf-fleet-tata-mahindra-hal-in-race-14037792.html
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Publish Date: 2026-08-12 22:03:00
