What Happened
New Generation Aircraft Sought For Indian Air Force
The Indian Ministry of Defence has formally issued a Request for Proposal for 60 Medium Transport Aircraft, valued at approximately $10-10.5 billion. The programme aims to modernize India’s medium-airlift capability and replace the ageing Antonov An-32 fleet. The aircraft must operate from short, austere, and demanding airfields, including high-altitude environments. The competition is expected to attract major aerospace manufacturers, with contenders including the C-390 Millennium, C-130J-30, and A400M Atlas. According to AeroMorning, the programme follows the ‘Buy and Make’ category, with 12 aircraft to be delivered in fly-away condition and 48 to be manufactured in India.