Defense Acquisition Council approves purchase of 60 medium transport aircraft for ₹80,000 crore

The Defense Ministry has taken a big decision to strengthen the logistics capability of the Indian Air Force. The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the purchase of 60 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA). The deal, worth around ₹80,000 crore, is being considered one of the largest defense acquisitions in recent years.

The objective of this decision is to replace the aging Antonov AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force and develop modern logistics capability. These aircraft, inducted in the 1980s, are now technologically obsolete and no longer capable of meeting the growing operational needs.

Under the new MTA project, such multi-role aircraft will be procured which can operate even on short length and unpaved runways. These aircraft will be capable of operating in all types of geographical environments, from Himalayan regions to island areas. Through this, the Army will get help in rapid deployment of troops, supply of equipment and disaster relief operations.

This procurement will be done under the ‘global’ category, in which use of at least 30 percent indigenous content will be mandatory. Such procurement will enhance the initiative of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and strengthen defense production in the country. In this race, Airbus’ A400M, Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules and Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium are considered to be the main contenders.

Under the defense deal, not only aircraft will be purchased, but spare parts, training and infrastructure will also be included. Along with this, joint ventures will be set up for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India, which is likely to create thousands of employment opportunities in the aerospace sector.

Indigenous companies are also expected to get big benefits from this project. Companies like Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited can play an important role in offset programs.

According to defense experts, this deal will give a new impetus to India’s aerospace ecosystem and will prove to be an important step towards making the country self-reliant in defense production. Also, the logistics capability of the Indian Air Force will increase.

As per the delivery timeline, the first aircraft is expected to be delivered by 2028, while the entire fleet is to be inducted by 2035. The plan is in line with the 2047 vision of the Air Force, which aims to develop a modern air power with strong logistics support.

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