MTA Program Shifts Focus to Airbus A400M Atlas as Potential Il-76 Replacement by 2035

[RonitBisht]

The Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, initially focusing on replacing the Antonov An-32, has shifted to finding a successor for the aging Ilyushin Il-76 fleet by 2035.

The Airbus A400M Atlas, with a 37-tonne payload, surpasses other contenders like Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules and Embraer's C-390 Millennium.

The final decision on the MTA program is yet to be made, considering factors like technical specifications, operational requirements, acquisition cost, and Make in India compliance.

 

[Kira]

One way or the other,this plane will certainly be very costly to acquire based on experiences of other countries that operate it.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

One way or the other,this plane will certainly be very costly to acquire based on experiences of other countries that operate it.

Anything made in "Europe" is expensive by the virtue of it.
India will need to do a desi Y-20 if it hopes to fill the gap in long run.

 

[Mango_Indian]

Should have mentioned cost of A-400M which will be 3-4 times of IL-78.

Now if IL-78 with PS-90A engines are having 65% availability like comparable modern Russian aircraft, it becomes impossible to justify paying 3X for lower capability aircraft like A-400M

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Should have mentioned cost of A-400M which will be 3-4 times of IL-78.

Now if IL-78 with PS-90A engines are having 65% availability like comparable modern Russian aircraft, it becomes impossible to justify paying 3X for lower capability aircraft like A-400M

Let's discuss a scenario.

Scene-1: You bought a secnd hand Tata Indica for Rs 10000 because the cost of new cars with stickers above Rs 500000 were not justified as per your analysis.

All cool and dandy.

Scene-2: The day your wife had to be admitted to a hospital for delivery, your car conked off.

Would you be happy that at least the value proposition of your purchase was justified, of you'd would be cursing your decision left and right and call an ambulance?

Something similar with Transporters. As a enabler, they serve a very specific purpose.
In a war, you would need all your transporters to be available. Even 65% (whoch again can be debated) is not a decent availability figure until we were buying a fleet of say 50 or more of those IL-78s.

 

[Anant]

Anything made in "Europe" is expensive by the virtue of it.
India will need to do a desi Y-20 if it hopes to fill the gap in long run.

Long-term, yes. But I'd rather prefer not to burden our developers with the overly complex task of developing yet another aircraft when they are already working on so many projects at once. (Do read that with a bit of a sarcastic touch, please)

That said, even if development on such an aircraft were to begin today, it wouldn't come in time to replace the Il-76s. If we have to start work on such an indigenous project, let it be intended as a replacement for the C-17s and the scale-up of the IAF in the late 2030s and early 2040s.

 

[NSR]

First of all, Airbus A400M is beset with many technical issues.
Second of all, Airbus A400M is very expensive to buy and operate.
Look at other options.

 

[desigandu]

Good...If India can assemble about 100+ (domestic and exports say to Asia and Africa) A-400Ms in 10 years and make sure that Airbus build an India production line, with TOT, MRO, Exports and IP, then it will be worth it...Cost is a big factor...We should also look at Japan's Kawasaki C-2 if Japan plays ball and the cost is cheaper.

 

[desigandu]

Long-term, yes. But I'd rather prefer not to burden our developers with the overly complex task of developing yet another aircraft when they are already working on so many projects at once. (Do read that with a bit of a sarcastic touch, please)

That said, even if development on such an aircraft were to begin today, it wouldn't come in time to replace the Il-76s. If we have to start work on such an indigenous project, let it be intended as a replacement for the C-17s and the scale-up of the IAF in the late 2030s and early 2040s.

Correct, India does not have many options except domestic manufacturing with a foreign OEM till 2035-2040, thus may have to take what is available (between C-130Js, C-390s, A-400Ms and Kawasaki C-2s)...India could launch its next gen MTA by 2035 to field a jet in 10 years (best case), but for a strategic airlifter in the class of C-17s we won't have the volumes, thus it will good if we can join the American next gen program, or medium term restart the C-17 line...Also we have domestic challenges of HAL and DRDO, which if not solved will continue to plague us.

 

[Harsh]

If Jaishankar is right about India having mutually beneficial defense relationship with Russia then why not upgrade IL-76-MD (as Russia has already done)? A better solution than going on a wild-goose chase for the next 20 years. Have the geniuses in MoD considered the obvious. Oh no! we forgot our AFs wanted the "shiny little things" from US/Europeans in the first place.

 

[Sandeep]

The simple reality is that any western transport plane is just too expensive even if it's made in India. The best, affordable and ideal option is to make a deal with Ukraine to buy the Antonov 70 plane as we will get a favourable price and deal. Ukraine's military industry is dead and they need the money to stop them loosing the war as they can barely afford it. India should take full advantage of this deal.

As for the Il-76 India should upgrade the current planes we have as they are over 20 years old. As for the MTA plane tender then the Il-76 is in the heavy lift category and the MTA tender is looking for a medium transport plane to replace the Antonov 32.

In short the Antonov 32 and the Il-76 both need replacing or modernised to improve its capabilities and safety as the older the plane gets then it requires a lot of maintenance and checks. If we want to replace the Il-76 then the cheapest and best option is to order and make the latest variant of the Il-76 and brand new engines in India with a good amount of technology transfer and local production including a MRO facility.

 

[BCharlie]

If Jaishankar is right about India having mutually beneficial defense relationship with Russia then why not upgrade IL-76-MD (as Russia has already done)? A better solution than going on a wild-goose chase for the next 20 years. Have the geniuses in MoD considered the obvious. Oh no! we forgot our AFs wanted the "shiny little things" from US/Europeans in the first place.

Sir, we actually are now caught & trapped in the web of the French Spider. That French Spider knows we have the money.. so, they need to take it.. by selling us their new shiny dazzling toys at more than double the original prices. Vive le Francais .. and our greedy commission makers are drooling over to make such deals.

 

[Shankys]

Apart from wet dreams for hardware made by break india european and american companies, common to Indian defence "experts", the only logical solution is IL76MD90A. With its new super critical wings, Aviadavigatel PS90A engine and glass cockpit, it has the potential to be IAF work horse for next 30 years. Unless you go by the western coolies propaganda. Now waiting for the abusive responses, encore!

 

[SK]

It would be better for IAF to invest in:-

1. Additional C-295
2. Additional C-130
3. At least 2 to 4 Used C-17 or Additional IL-76

This will insure better Logistical synergy & long term work for Indian Aerospace industry.

Indian-Govt must encourage a JV b/w Tata & Airbus for production of these Aircraft for both Civil & Military roles:-

1. Airbus-A330 => MRTT, AWACS & MPA
2. Airbus-A320 => AWACS, MPA & ISR

This will give a huge boost Indian Aerospace industry & insure high-end technological employment for decades to comes.

 

[Rational Guy]

Long-term, yes. But I'd rather prefer not to burden our developers with the overly complex task of developing yet another aircraft when they are already working on so many projects at once.

Yes we must start development of our Y20 only after Mk2 production is in full swing and AMCA has done first flight.