The Indian Air Force is moving toward a major transport-aircraft modernisation program involving as many as 60 Medium Transport Aircraft and an estimated ₹1,00,000 crore investment. The requirement seeks aircraft with an 18–30-tonne payload, allowing them to perform missions beyond the capabilities of the ageing An-32 fleet. Under the proposed acquisition, 12 aircraft would arrive directly from the manufacturer while 48 would be produced domestically, with indigenous content expected to exceed 60 percent. HAL, Tata Advanced Systems and Mahindra Defence are among the Indian firms positioned to lead partnerships with international aircraft manufacturers. Tata Advanced Systems is associated with Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules, while Mahindra Defence is partnered with Embraer for the C-390 Millennium. The C-390 offers a 26-tonne payload and multiple mission configurations. Russia has separately proposed the Il-276, a twin-turbofan aircraft with a 20-tonne payload and a concept rooted in the earlier Indo-Russian transport-aircraft project. India’s geography makes medium airlift particularly important because aircraft must operate across high-altitude and difficult terrain. The program would also expand India’s ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies and disaster-relief requirements.
