Israel Aircraft Industries to deliver six Boeing 767-based tankers, enhancing India's long-range air operations.
In a major enhancement of India's aerial refuelling capability, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is understood to be close to signing an ₹8,000 crore contract to supply six mid-air refuelling aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Defence authorities unveiled that the Israeli state-owned entity has come out as the lone qualifying bidder in the international tender after meeting all the technical parameters and offset requirements, including 30% indigenous content within the Make in India policy. According to the agreed contract, IAI will convert ex-Battlefield Boeing 767 commercial jets into advanced refuelling tankers, boasting the latest avionics and refuelling systems, before delivering them to the IAF. This program exactly complements India's own push toward defence indigenisation and aerospace indigence reduction.
Currently, the IAF has six Russian-origin IL-78 tankers based at Agra Air Force Station, which are used for refuelling duties for fighter aircraft like Su-30MKI, Rafale, and MiG-29. Repeated issues of maintenance and operational restrictions have only highlighted the necessity of more refuelling aircraft in the face of an ongoing demand. Earlier tenders with Airbus and Russian variants were put on the back burner due to pricing and compliance issues.
IAI’s cost-effective solution, involving refurbished aircraft integrated with advanced systems and localised production, has reportedly struck the right balance between efficiency, affordability, and strategic independence.
Once commissioned, these Boeing 767-based refuellers will extend the operational range of IAF’s combat jets, significantly enhancing India’s ability to conduct sustained air missions and project power across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
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