The Indian Air Force (IAF) is taking significant steps to address serviceability issues plaguing its Russian-origin Ilyushin Il-78MKI tanker fleet by leasing a KC-135 air refueler from US-based Metrea. This arrangement is a wet lease, which means that Metrea will not only provide the aircraft but also ensure necessary training and maintenance support. The KC-135 will be stationed at the IAF Station Agra in the northern region of India and is expected to assist in training flights for both IAF and Indian Navy pilots. The delivery of the aircraft is anticipated within six months.
In addition to this, the Indian government has recently approved the lease of an Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft from the French Air Force for a three-year period. Similar to the KC-135 arrangement, this lease is also a wet lease, with the contract expected to be finalized in the next financial year, starting April 1, 2025. The inclusion of the Airbus A330 will allow IAF pilots to receive training on an aircraft that had initially been selected for procurement in 2009 and 2013, although both deals were later canceled due to concerns over high costs.
The serviceability challenges within the IAF’s fleet of six Il-78MKIs have been well-documented, with maintenance issues causing the fleet to operate below 50 percent serviceability levels from 2010 to 2016. This shortfall has hindered the IAF’s strategic ambitions. The benchmark for serviceability set by the IAF for its refueling fleet, which was procured between 2003 and 2004, stands at 70 percent.
A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General highlighted multiple difficulties, including faulty refueling pods, insufficient repair facilities, and a lack of adequate maintenance support from the manufacturer. To tackle these ongoing issues, the IAF issued an acceptance of necessity in early 2024 for six mid-air refuelers. This comes in the wake of a 2022 agreement between state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries to explore the conversion of commercial Boeing 767s into refueling platforms.
As the IAF evaluates future tanker acquisitions, both Airbus and Boeing remain key contenders, and the possibility of utilizing converted commercial aircraft is also being explored. In an interim arrangement, a government-to-government agreement signed in November 2024 enables the Royal Australian Air Force’s KC-30A tanker to provide refueling support for Indian Armed Forces aircraft, ensuring that operational capabilities are maintained while new solutions are sought.
