IAF’s IL-76MD Fleet: The Indian Air Force appears to have taken at least two of its II-76MD heavy transport aircraft out of active flying duty. Satellite images studied by idrw.org show that both aircraft have not moved from their spots at the Chandigarh Air Force Station since 2022. These planes, called Gajraj in the Indian Air Force, have been the main workhorses for lifting very heavy loads.
India brought in 17 of them between 1985 and 1989, each costing about Rs. 46 crore. The II-76MD uses four Aviadvigatel D-30KP engines and can take off at a maximum weight of 190 tonnes. It can carry 40 to 44 tonnes of cargo, which is enough to lift a T-72 tank or a whole infantry group with full gear.
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These aircraft became part of No. 44 Squadron, known as the Mighty Jets, after the unit moved to Chandigarh in 2011. They played key roles in many major missions. They helped during the Maldives operation in 1988. They supported the IPKF troops in Sri Lanka. They also carried relief supplies during the deadly Nepal earthquake in 2015.
Long Grounding
Satellite images show that the first IL-76MD was moved to an open area near the maintenance hangars in early 2020. A second aircraft arrived soon after. One of them went inside a hangar for checks but came back to the same outdoor spot a few months later. No flying activity was seen in 2021.
In early 2022 both aircraft appeared briefly in active zones, likely for basic inspections. After that, they stayed parked in the exact same places through December 2025.
This long grounding fits with the Indian Air Force’s plan to extend the life of the entire IL-76MD fleet. The war in Ukraine created major supply delays, and India has struggled to get spare parts. In March 2024, the Air Force asked Russia’s National Aviation Service Company to study overhaul timelines and the total technical life of 11 remaining IL-76MDs. The study covered metal stress checks, engine tests and avionics updates. All these aircraft have already flown more than 20,000 hours, reporte IDRW.
Sources say both grounded aircraft need major maintenance and repair work. They especially need new D-30KP engines. But buying these engines has become slow because Russian aerospace companies like Aviadvigatel face sanctions.
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To keep the other II-76MDs flying, engineers have taken working parts from the two grounded units. This “organ donor” method helped keep the fleet running but also reduced the squadron strength from 17 to around 11 or 12 by 2025. In July 2024, for the first time ever, the Air Force hired an Indian company to repair two II-76MDs that suffered undercarriage problems at Chandigarh.
Wider Fleet Trouble
The two grounded IL-76MDs are parked close to three Mil Mi-26 helicopters that are also not flying. These huge helicopters need special overhauls for their D-136 engines and rotor parts. Russia has not been able to send the support needed, and the new certification dates now go beyond 2026. With so many Russian aircraft sitting idle at Chandigarh, the problem shows a big weakness in India’s reliance on old Russian machines.
To lower this risk, the Air Force has begun adding new aircraft. India will get 12 C-295MW transport planes by 2026. The Air Force already uses 11 C-17 Globemasters for many heavy-lift tasks.
Losing two IL-76MDs cuts India’s strategic airlift power by almost 12%. This makes fast missions along the Line of Actual Control harder and also affects possible operations in the Indian Ocean Region.
