Amid IAF's Depleting Airlift Capabilities, Defence Ministry to Pit Global Giants for $5B 'Make in India' MTA Contract

The Ministry of Defence is preparing to launch a global tender for the acquisition of 60 to 80 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) in a deal estimated to be worth over $5 billion.

This significant procurement aims to urgently address the Indian Air Force's (IAF) critically declining transport capabilities and bolster the nation's self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the 'Make in India' initiative.

The program, revived after years of delay, will seek strategic partnerships between international aviation leaders and Indian companies to produce the aircraft domestically.

The new fleet is slated to replace the IAF's ageing Soviet-era Antonov An-32 and Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft.

These platforms, which have formed the core of India's tactical airlift for decades, are now facing significant operational and maintenance issues, with the serviceability rate of the An-32 fleet reportedly falling below 50%.

This decline severely hampers the IAF's ability to conduct rapid troop and equipment deployment, especially to high-altitude forward bases along India's northern borders.

The MTA will fill a crucial payload gap between 18 and 30 tonnes, enhancing logistics for both military operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.

The multi-billion dollar contract has attracted three major international aerospace firms, each of which has partnered with an Indian industrial giant to meet the stringent local production requirements.

• Embraer C-390M Millennium: The Brazilian aerospace champion is offering its jet-powered C-390M aircraft in collaboration with Mahindra Defence. The C-390M is promoted as a versatile, new-generation platform capable of performing various roles, including troop and cargo transport, aerial refueling, and medical evacuation. The partnership aims to establish a final assembly line in India, creating a local industrial base.
• Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules: The American defence major, in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), is offering the C-130J-30, a stretched version of the Super Hercules. The IAF already operates a fleet of 12 C-130J aircraft, and this proposal offers the advantage of fleet commonality and proven performance in challenging environments, including short, unprepared airstrips in the Himalayas.
• Airbus A400M Atlas: European consortium Airbus is proposing its larger A400M Atlas, which has a payload capacity of 37 tonnes, potentially with TASL. This partnership would leverage the existing collaboration between Airbus and Tata for manufacturing the C-295 transport aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat. The A400M would provide the IAF with a significant strategic airlift capability, bridging the gap between medium and heavy-lift assets.

While a proposal for the Russian IL-276 aircraft in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is also under consideration, recent geopolitical developments and India's focus on diversifying its military hardware sources have placed the Western contenders in a more favorable position.

The forthcoming tender is expected to mandate a minimum of 50-60% indigenous content, emphasizing technology transfer, local manufacturing, and the development of a domestic aerospace ecosystem.

Defence experts have described the procurement as essential and long overdue. The selection process, which follows a Request for Information (RFI) issued in December 2022, is expected to last between 18 and 24 months after the formal tender is released.

The first deliveries of the new aircraft are anticipated to begin around 2030, eventually restoring the operational edge of the IAF's vital airlift arm.

 

AMCA Prototype Fabrication on Fast Track for 2027 as Seven Industry Giants Bid for a Crucial Manufacturing Role

India Requests Pricing for 114 Rafale Jets from Dassault, Aims for Direct G2G Deal to Fast-Track Induction in IAF

[Akil]

KC-390 Millennium is the best, or can we get the C-130J for commonality and to get engines for the Tejas?

 

[Kira]

KC-390 Millennium is the best, or can we get the C-130J for commonality and to get engines for the Tejas?

I agree with the KC-390 being a good middle ground between the two, but why the linkage with the Tejas engines?

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Why do we act only when it becomes a crisis? Why no proactive measures?

 

[Kira]

C-390 seems like a good middle ground considering it also offers better-performing turbofan engines.
The A400M is great in terms of payload, but it is also very costly to boot, while the C-130J is proven and reliable, but it comes up short when it comes to sheer payload and range.
From a diplomatic perspective, since Airbus already has a plant for the C-295M and the US would get many other orders in the future, it is better to finally bring in a third power like Brazil into the Indian aviation sector to provide more options in the future.

 

[Kira]

Why do we act only when it becomes a crisis? Why no proactive measures?

To be sure, this is not HAL's fault (which is rare indeed), as during the early 2010s, both India and Russia wanted to develop the MTA cargo plane, which fizzled out over time due to inadequate engines, well-known maintenance challenges with the IL-76, etc.
And since the IAF by then had already committed huge sums of money for the An-32 upgrade program, additional C-17 purchases (which sadly did not materialize), the Airbus C-295M, and of course the long-delayed and thrice-canceled tanker program which Airbus had also won only to see the deal fall through every time.

So, the IAF only now had the resources and clarity to allocate resources to a medium cargo plane like the A400M and C-390.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

A400M Atlas is a beast but too costly. One benefit will be that the IAF is already operating the Airbus C295 platform. The infrastructure is already there so it can be produced easily by TATA and the logistic cost will be less. KC390 is also a very good option but I think they use US engines so it can be a negative point. C130J could be the winner here because India has to give some deals to the US to pamper them, because a jet engine is also coming from the US. India is also going to purchase additional S400 platforms from Russia and there is a possibility of the SU57 as well. So you will see some defence deals with the US as well, like P8I, MTA and probably additional Chinook and Apache as well.

 

[GMR]

C-390 should be the front runner considering cost-effectiveness and versatility and geopolitics by having the biggest South American economy on your side during this Trump period.The best thing is that for all three, the private sector will get the job, which is excellent for expanding our ecosystem.

 

[Anant Pandey]

India will be going with the C-390, considering a long-term partnership with Brazil. The C-130 stands no chance, and the A400M is a budget nightmare and dollar drainer.

India is looking at a strategic and long-term relationship with Brazil to not just buy this C-390, but India would become a hub for international exports for this machine. Also, the Indian and Brazilian leadership will start their long-term defence cooperation and partnership with this deal.

 

[Aditya Khullar]

Also purchase aerial refuelers alongside. Although people will hate on me for the thought of it, KC-46s or old USAF KC-135s should do the trick for now. It will please orange man, and for transport, the KC-390 or A400M should be chosen; a large fleet of American C-130s is not a smart choice long term.

 

[Serious Golfer]

C-390 seems like a good middle ground considering it also offers better-performing turbofan engines.
The A400M is great in terms of payload, but it is also very costly to boot, while the C-130J is proven and reliable, but it comes up short when it comes to sheer payload and range.
From a diplomatic perspective, since Airbus already has a plant for the C-295M and the US would get many other orders in the future, it is better to finally bring in a third power like Brazil into the Indian aviation sector to provide more options in the future.

I think the C-390 would be a great option for India. Also, if co-development is a key consideration, there remain possibilities in up-engining, upsizing, or even a four-engine version, as with the Kawasaki C-2.

 

[vinod nair]

If we need to go for a Russian system or a foreign system, then it should be for dual purposes, that is, civilian air traffic requirements also, especially on local routes.

 

[ku.nj727]

I think India should proceed with Airbus A400M as it bridges between tactical and heavy lift aircrafts while offering significant ToT and probably FAL for 60-80 aircrafts

 

[bonito]

If even Airbus is the choice, we should give a mix of Embraer jets too. At any time, do not put all the eggs in one basket.

 

[Anant]

If we need to go for a Russian system or a foreign system, then it should be for dual purposes, that is, civilian air traffic requirements also, especially on local routes.

Nope. We won't be going with the Russians in this case. The Il-276 program is nascent at best and dreams at worst. Moreover, our domestic carriers are all tuned to aircraft from Airbus, Boeing, ATR, Embraer, De Havilland Canada, etc. Going for an entirely new manufacturer would induce unnecessary logistical issues, not to mention certification problems and the fact that any Russian jets would be severely limited on international routes.

 

[Anant]

I think the C-390 would be a great option for India. Also, if co-development is a key consideration, there remain possibilities in up-engining, upsizing, or even a four-engine version, as with the Kawasaki C-2.

Eh... regardless of which aircraft we select, while there is certainly the possibility of developing variants for new roles, any major upgrades like significant upsizing are fairly unlikely. More radical ideas like developing a quad-engine variant simply will not happen, because one cannot simply add engines to an aircraft. Something that significant requires practically a full redesign.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to quickly make a deal because our current IL-76 are getting old and they can’t get upgraded any further. Whatever deal we make we should make sure that it’s manufactured in India and there is significant critical technology transfer. The air force were too hasty to dismiss the Indian regional plane that they were developing for the military and as a civil variant.

The latest and most modern IL-76 version is a completely brand new plane with much better payload capacity, avionics, technology, engines, fuel efficient, aerial refuel capability, low purchase cost, low maintenance, cheaper parts, increased availability etc.

The Atlas and C130J are going to be very expensive and we won’t get any critical technology or get to manufacture much of it indigenously either.

As for the C-390M plane it seems like it’s a perfect fit and it’s great if they give us a significant amount of critical technology and get to manufacture a significant part indigenously. It could also be more cheaper than the other 2 western options.

 

[Benith Israel]

India needs a Japanese C2 class plane. It should be good enough to airlift the Zorawar tank to high altitude. It can accommodate older T-72s or newer T-90s if guns can be disassembled and put back later, if chassis dimensions allow it. But the Japanese have no interest in our circus.

 

[shama rao]

All collaboration with TASL is not good. Mahindra, should be given opportunity. Also, smaller passenger plane with 90 capacity to be built in India to take care of domestic requirement

 

[Pravijay]

Why do we act only when it becomes a crisis? Why no proactive measures?

Hallmark of MOD and HAL

 

[sher]

India should insist for 85 percent plus Tot and way world economy is airbus Russians will agree C390 should not be taken since it's engines are theirs