New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) valued at approximately ₹1 lakh crore to acquire 60 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force. The tender targets domestic aerospace firms, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tata, and Mahindra, who will lead partnerships with foreign original equipment manufacturers to fulfill the requirement. The procurement seeks to replace the IAF’s aging fleet of Soviet-era Antonov AN-32 transport aircraft, which have completed nearly three decades of operational service.
Under the procurement structure, the selected vendor will supply 12 aircraft in flyaway condition, while the remaining 48 units will be manufactured and assembled in India through a joint venture with the domestic partner. The program mandates progressive localization exceeding 50 percent, covering structural sub-assemblies, avionics racks, software integration, and wiring. Additionally, the contract mandates the establishment of an indigenous Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul hub to support life-cycle maintenance and engine overhauls.
Three international aerospace manufacturers are currently competing for the program: Airbus with the A400M, Lockheed Martin with the C-130J, and Embraer with the C-390 Millennium. The IAF has specified a payload capacity ranging between 18 and 30 tonnes, positioned between the lighter C-295 and heavy-lift C-17 aircraft. The cargo bay must accommodate specialized military cargo, including the Zorawar light tank, M777 ultra-light howitzers, and air defense systems, while maintaining short-takeoff capabilities for high-altitude forward bases in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
