The Defence Ministry has floated a ₹1 lakh crore tender for 60 multirole transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force, opening a major competition among Indian defence companies and global aerospace manufacturers.
Indian companies including Tata, Mahindra and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are among those invited to participate, with Indian firms expected to take the lead in the programme.
Mahindra Defence has partnered with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer to offer the C-390 Millennium, while Tata is working with Lockheed Martin to propose the C-130J Super Hercules, an aircraft already operated by the IAF.
Under the programme, around 20% of the aircraft are expected to be delivered in fly-away condition, while the majority will be manufactured in India through partnerships between Indian companies and original equipment manufacturers. The aircraft are expected to feature more than 60% indigenous content.
The acquisition is aimed at modernising the IAF’s ageing transport fleet and strengthening its airlift capabilities. The aircraft could also support roles including troop and equipment movement and aerial refuelling.
The programme could therefore become a significant opportunity for India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, combining large-scale aircraft procurement with domestic production and technology partnerships.
