India intends to purchase six mid-air reactors

India wants to purchase six mid-air refuellers from a foreign source for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The industry has been informed in detail of the needs set out by the Ministry of Defense. Specialized aircraft known as “mid-air refuellers” can refuel fighter jets and helicopters while they are in the air, saving them the time it would take to land, refuel, and take off again.

Currently, the Indian Air Force refuels its fleet using IL-78 aircraft, which are of Soviet descent. These aircraft are almost thirty years old. The IAF is currently examining possibilities in the United States and Europe.

One important piece of information that the IAF provided with the industry is that the sale would fall under the “Buy Global” category, which means that the refuellers will be purchased from vendors across the world. The majority of these mid-air refuellers are modified versions of Boeing and Airbus commercial aircraft.

Boeing’s 767 commercial jet serves as the basis for the company’s KC-46 Pegasus mid-air refueller for military aircraft. The commercial A 330 series aircraft serves as the foundation for the Airbus Multi Role Tanker Transport.

To convert civil passenger aircraft into Multi-Mission Tanker Transport aircraft in India, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries struck a memorandum of agreement in 2022.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited intended to transform pre-owned civil aircraft into cargo- and transport-capable mid-air refueling aircraft. The Ministry of Defence’s highest decision-making authority, the Defence Acquisition Council, approved the purchase of these aircraft on February 16.