In a major step to strengthen India's aerial logistics, the Ministry of Defence recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure three Ultra Heavy Lift Helicopters (UHLHs) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Released on April 28, 2026, the RFI specifies an initial two-year damp lease arrangement that includes an option for a future buyout.
This procurement aims to swiftly resolve vital shortages in rotary-wing heavy airlift capacities across demanding frontier environments.
Opting for a "damp lease" (or wet lease) strategy is highly significant.
This arrangement ensures that the vendor supplies the aircraft alongside the necessary technical support and maintenance crews, while the IAF retains full operational command.
By sidestepping the lengthy process of building new logistical networks and training ecosystems from the ground up, the military can rapidly deploy these machines.
In fact, the MoD expects delivery within a tight three-to-six-month window to address immediate tactical needs.
These new UHLH platforms are expected to operate a tier above the IAF’s existing medium-heavy CH-47F(I) Chinook fleet.
The RFI demands a staggering 20,000-kilogram (20-tonne) internal or underslung payload capacity, firmly establishing this as an "ultra-heavy" class.
Additionally, the choppers must be capable of ferrying a minimum of 45 fully equipped soldiers or 20 stretchers for medical evacuations.
Such immense lifting power enables the single-sortie transport of heavy artillery, armored vehicles, and large infrastructure modules directly into remote sectors.
Operationally, the acquisition perfectly aligns with India's modernizing logistics strategies along the challenging northern and western borders.
The formidable Himalayan terrain naturally restricts ground transport, elevating the strategic value of high-altitude vertical lift.
The new helicopters are mandated to operate at extreme altitudes of 5,500 metres (18,000 feet) and endure brutal temperatures dropping to between minus 40 and minus 60 degrees Celsius.
Rapidly moving heavy hardware across such punishing landscapes dramatically reduces troop deployment times and offers commanders unmatched operational flexibility.
Issued under the framework of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, the RFI invites proposals from both domestic and international providers, though it leans favorably toward Indian enterprises.
This approach champions two goals: swiftly obtaining advanced hardware while simultaneously promoting indigenous participation in specialized aviation sectors.
To ensure survivability in contested airspaces, the requested platforms must also integrate sophisticated electronic warfare suites, including a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS), and an automated Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS).
The global market for true ultra-heavy-lift rotorcraft is exceptionally narrow.
The Russian-designed Mil Mi-26—the world's most powerful helicopter—and top-tier variants of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook remain the primary contenders capable of meeting these extreme specifications.
Because the IAF is demanding an ambitious 95 percent operational availability rate along with cruise speeds exceeding 230 km/h, the competition will test not just the raw power of the aircraft, but the logistical efficiency of the leasing agencies supplying them.
The designated two-year lease period clearly indicates that the military views this as an interim measure to fill current capability gaps rather than an immediate, permanent fix.
Notably, the IAF already owns a small fleet of older Mi-26s purchased in the 1980s, which are currently undergoing a separate overhaul process after being grounded for several years.
By including a purchase option in this new leasing agreement, the government retains the flexibility to evaluate real-world performance before committing to a permanent acquisition.
This development underscores a growing pattern within India's broader defence procurement strategy.
Leasing has emerged as a highly effective instrument to rapidly equip the armed forces while postponing massive capital payouts.
This model empowers the military to bypass historically sluggish acquisition cycles, placing mission-critical platforms into active service almost immediately while gathering invaluable field data.
Strategically, introducing these ultra-heavy platforms will drastically amplify the military's capacity to execute large-scale logistical transfers, rapid troop projections, and high-altitude disaster relief.
By occupying the crucial space between traditional fixed-wing cargo planes and standard transport helicopters, this damp lease initiative will fortify a vital, yet previously under-equipped, segment of the nation's airlift infrastructure.
