IAF New Transport Aircraft: The government has started the process to buy 60 new Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force. The project could cost nearly Rs 1 lakh crore.
The new planes will mainly replace the ageing Antonov An-32 fleet. More than 100 An-32s have served the IAF for nearly 40 years, carrying troops, equipment and supplies across India. The new aircraft may also take over some work of the older Il-76 planes. They will fill the gap between smaller transport aircraft and heavy airlift planes.
Indian Companies in the Huge Aircraft Deal
The government has invited Tata Group, Mahindra Defence, Adani Defence and HAL to compete for the 60-aircraft programme. The Indian company that wins will lead the project and work with a foreign aircraft maker.
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Unlike many earlier defence deals, the Indian company will be the main contractor. It will bring the foreign aircraft technology to India and set up a final assembly line. It will also need to create MRO facilities for servicing, repairs and major maintenance.
The deal comes under the “Buy and Make” route. Of the 60 aircraft, 12 will be delivered ready to fly, while the remaining 48 will be built in India with the foreign partner. The locally built aircraft must have at least 40% Indian content at the start. This is expected to rise to 60% in phases.
C-130J and C-390 Emerge as Major Options
Two aircraft are seen as the main contenders for the IAF’s new transport aircraft programme. Tata Group has joined hands with Lockheed Martin to offer the C-130J Super Hercules. The IAF already operates 12 of these aircraft, so it has experience with their training and maintenance. The C-130J can carry around 19 tonnes.
Mahindra Defence has partnered with Brazil’s Embraer to offer the C-390 Millennium. It can carry around 26 tonnes and is designed for missions such as troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, rescue and disaster relief. The companies also plan to build manufacturing and MRO facilities in India if selected.
Adani Defence is another bidder and has a separate partnership with Embraer for developing a transport aircraft ecosystem in India. This includes manufacturing, supply chains, MRO and pilot training.
HAL is also in the race and has earlier worked with Russia on a Medium Transport Aircraft project. The project began in 2009 but was later dropped because of disagreements over design and development. Airbus had offered its A400M Atlas earlier. However, its roughly 37-tonne payload is much higher than the IAF’s required 18 to 30 tonnes, and the company is unlikely to take part in the current tender.
Importance for Ladakh and the Northeast
The IAF needs a transport aircraft that can work in tough areas like Ladakh and the Northeast. It must carry 18 to 30 tonnes and operate from high-altitude airfields and short, semi-prepared runways. The aircraft will fill the gap between the 9-tonne C-295 and the much larger C-17 Globemaster III.
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The need has grown after the crash of an An-32 at Jorhat, Assam, which killed five personnel. The ageing An-32 fleet also faces rising maintenance problems.
During the eastern Ladakh standoff, transport aircraft played a key role in moving troops and supplies to high-altitude areas. The new fleet will give the IAF better airlift support for military operations, emergencies and disaster relief.
The Defence Acquisition Council approved the 60-aircraft programme in March 2026 as part of a wider Rs 2.38 lakh crore defence package. The process will now move through technical evaluation and commercial talks before the final aircraft and Indian partner are selected.
