₹1 Lakh Crore Lifeline: IAF’s Bid to Replace An-32 Fleet Takes Flight

In a major push to modernize military logistics, the Ministry of Defence has floated a tender valued at nearly ₹1 lakh crore for 60 Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force. The program is designed to phase out the IAF's legacy Antonov An-32 cargo aircraft.

Major Indian defense players—including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), and Mahindra Defence—have received the tender documents. Several have secured partnerships with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs):

Mahindra Defence has partnered with Embraer (C-390)

TASL has teamed up with Lockheed Martin (C-130, adding to the IAF's existing fleet of 12 C-130J aircraft)

Beyond strengthening frontline logistics and operational readiness, the MTA project aims to deepen private and public sector participation in India's growing defense manufacturing ecosystem.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.