Indian Air Force (IAF) is in the process of technical evaluation of mid-hwa refugees, seeking to purchase as an important strategic property since 2007, The Indian Express Have you learnt.
According to sources, three to four firms have presented dialects for six mid-air refuelrs who want to acquire IAF.
“The technical assessment phase is currently running,” an official said that an official of the middle-hosts made by three to four firms is considered under consideration.
Once finalized, an Indian maintenance partner will be sought for these tankers.
The IAF currently operates a fleet of six ILUSHIN IL-78MKI tankers purchased from Uzbekistan in 2003-04.
In February 2024, the Defense Acquisition Council headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the purchase of one and six mid-host refugees.
In 2023, The Indian Express Told that IAF wanted to purchase six “pre-owned” aircraft, which could be modified in tankers to meet the need of your tanker for 25-30 years.
The story continues below this advertisement
In March this year, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the metrea management-it is a US-based private institution, which specializes in air-to-air fueling solutions-to provide training to IAF and Indian Navy pilots for wet lease of flight fuel fuel (FRA).
The ministry said that the metrea will provide FRA (KC-135 aircraft) within six months-this will be the first FRA leased by IAF.
It is not immediately clear whether all the Fry companies have picked up pre -owned aircraft for contracts.
This is the third attempt by IAF since 2007 to buy tankers. Due to pricing disputes, two earlier tenders were canceled.
The story continues below this advertisement
The idea behind opening the door to buy pre-owned aircraft as tankers was that many global companies would infection in advanced aircraft with new engines as they remove with their old aircraft models over the next few years, thus ensuring availability of adequate number of pre-owned aircraft in the market to amend the tankers.
Fras will be an important strategic property and will have several multiplies for armed forces as these fighter allow jets to stay aerial for a long time. The need to incorporate tankers is important and is stem from the long -term plans of IAF, which is to include a series of fighter jets capable of obtaining fuel in the air to add the current number of squadron.
Of the six existing IAF II-78 tankers, only three to four are worth serving, purchased in 2003-04.
The issues of their maintenance and serviceability were highlighted in the August 2017 report by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which studied their operations from 2010 to 2016.
The story continues below this advertisement
The tankers were purchased in 2003-2004 in Rs 132 crore per aircraft. The IAF also provides efforts to the mig-29k fighter jets of the Navy to fill limited fuel.
In the past, both Airbus A330 Multi -Roll Tanker Transport and Ilushin IL -78 fought to secure the contract.
The state -owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) also signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to replace Boeing 767 passenger aircraft in tankers in India.
Limited (T) Indian Express
