India's military relies heavily on its fleet of transport aircraft for the swift movement of troops, equipment, and crucial aid across varied landscapes and during emergencies.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently depends on aging Soviet-era aircraft, namely the Ilyushin Il-76 and Antonov An-32, for its medium and heavy-lift requirements. However, a pressing need exists to modernize this fleet.
As these older aircraft approach retirement and face increasing maintenance difficulties, India faces a crucial decision: purchase new aircraft from foreign vendors or invest in developing its own transport planes.
The Il-76, introduced in the 1980s, is a strategic airlifter capable of carrying approximately 48 tonnes of cargo. The An-32, also operational since the 1980s, is a tactical transport aircraft with a payload capacity of around 6-7 tonnes. Both have been instrumental in military logistics, disaster relief, and operations in challenging high-altitude areas like Ladakh.
However, their age, combined with difficulties in obtaining spare parts (a situation worsened by ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Russia and Ukraine), has reduced their operational readiness. Furthermore, contemporary warfare demands aircraft with enhanced performance, stealth capabilities, and compatibility with modern systems – features these older models lack.
Acquiring the design of a modern Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) presents a strategic opportunity. An MTA, generally designed to carry payloads between 18 and 30 tonnes, can effectively fill the operational gap between the larger Il-76 and the smaller An-32. MTAs typically offer improved versatility with modern avionics, better fuel efficiency, and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities.
The IAF recognized this need, issuing a Request for Information (RFI) in 2022. Potential candidates mentioned included the Airbus A400M, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, and Embraer C-390 Millennium.
Rather than simply buying these aircraft, India could negotiate for the design rights and intellectual property of a chosen MTA. This would enable India to customize the aircraft to its specific needs and create a basis for future indigenous aircraft development.
With an acquired MTA design as a foundation, India could use its ongoing aero-engine development programs – specifically, the high-thrust engine project for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the Kaveri engine – to create two specialized transport aircraft variants. These would be designed to replace the Il-76 and An-32, respectively. This two-pronged strategy would maximize self-reliance while addressing the IAF's varied requirements.
The AMCA program, focused on creating a fifth-generation stealth fighter, necessitates a high-thrust engine generating between 110 and 130 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust. This engine is likely to be co-developed with international partners, such as Safran or Rolls-Royce. Once this engine is ready, it could be adapted for a heavy-lift variant of the MTA, replacing the Il-76.
A twin-engine configuration using these powerful engines could potentially lift 40-50 tonnes, meeting or surpassing the Il-76's capacity. This new variant would incorporate advanced avionics, composite materials, and stealth features derived from the AMCA program, ensuring it meets the demands of modern warfare, including rapid deployment, aerial refueling, and operations in contested airspace.
The Kaveri engine, initially developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, has gained renewed attention due to the success of its dry variant (producing 49 kN of thrust) in unmanned systems like the Ghatak Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV). GTRE has also proposed a more powerful Kaveri variant with an afterburner, aiming for 90-95 kN of thrust.
This upgraded Kaveri could power a medium-lift MTA variant to succeed the An-32. A twin-engine configuration with this enhanced Kaveri could carry 18-20 tonnes, making it ideal for tactical airlift, paratrooper deployment, and operations from short, unpaved runways at high altitudes.
To maintain operational readiness during this transition, the IAF could initially induct a limited number of complete MTAs to replace the most urgently needed Il-76 and An-32 units.
As the domestically produced variants become available – starting with the medium-lift Kaveri-powered version around the mid-2030s and the heavy-lift AMCA-engine variant by the late 2030s – the IAF could gradually phase out foreign-made aircraft, ultimately achieving a fully indigenous transport fleet.
