The Indian Ministry of Defence has approved a $1.1-billion program to procure six Boeing 767-based multirole aerial refuelling tankers, strengthening the Indian Air Force’s long-range operational capability.
Under the ₹90-billion initiative, Israel Aerospace Industries, working with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, will convert six second-hand Boeing 767 passenger aircraft into aerial refuelling platforms.
IAI became the sole bidder after rival European and Russian proposals reportedly failed to meet India’s technical criteria and local manufacturing requirements. Officials expect the contract to be finalized by March.
The aircraft will replace the IAF’s existing Il-78MKI tanker fleet, which has struggled with persistent maintenance and availability challenges. Historical data suggests serviceability rates dropped below 50 percent between 2010 and 2016, compared to an expected 70 percent operational standard.
Introduced into service in 2003, the Russian-built Il-78MKIs are approaching obsolescence and are increasingly inadequate for supporting long-range missions flown by platforms such as the Rafale, Su-30MKI, and Tejas, according to GlobalData.
An audit by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General previously identified key shortcomings in the tanker fleet, citing defective refuelling pods, limited maintenance infrastructure, and weak OEM support.
The tanker acquisition comes amid a broader expansion of India’s fighter force structure. GlobalData forecasts Indian spending on fixed-wing aircraft to reach approximately $82.6 billion over the next decade.
In recent months, the Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of 114 multirole fighters valued at around ₹3.25 trillion ($36 billion), while the MoD also signed a $7-billion contract with HAL for 97 additional Tejas Mk-1A aircraft.
