The Defence Ministry has issued a tender worth around ₹1 lakh crore for 60 multirole transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), as India moves to modernise its ageing fleet of cargo and transport planes.

The programme is expected to be led by Indian companies, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tata and Mahindra among the domestic firms involved in the competition, defence officials told ANI.

The procurement is also expected to give a major push to India's efforts to manufacture military aircraft domestically.

Indian Firms to Lead Programme

Under the proposed programme, Indian companies will take the lead role, while working with global aircraft manufacturers to develop and produce the transport planes.

Around 20 per cent of the aircraft are expected to be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remaining aircraft will be manufactured in India.

The domestically produced aircraft are expected to contain more than 60 per cent indigenous content, according to defence officials.

The aircraft would be manufactured in India through joint ventures involving Indian companies, original equipment manufacturers and HAL.

Mahindra Offers C-390 Aircraft

Mahindra Defence has partnered with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer to offer the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the programme.

The C-390 is a multirole military transport aircraft designed to carry troops, equipment and cargo and can also undertake other missions.

The partnership could give Mahindra an opportunity to expand its role in India's growing military aerospace manufacturing sector.

Tata Proposes C-130

Tata is partnering with US defence major Lockheed Martin to offer the C-130 transport aircraft.

The Indian Air Force already operates 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, which are primarily used for special operations and tactical transport missions.

The existing fleet could give the Tata-Lockheed Martin proposal an advantage in terms of operational familiarity and existing support infrastructure.

The tender, however, will involve a competitive evaluation before a final selection is made.

C-295 Programme Underway

The new transport aircraft procurement comes as India is already implementing another major military transport programme involving Airbus.

The IAF is set to induct around 70 C-295 transport aircraft, with the majority expected to be manufactured in India.

The C-295 programme is being developed as part of India's broader push to establish domestic capabilities in military aircraft manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports.

The new multirole transport aircraft programme would complement rather than replace the C-295 fleet, given the different operational requirements of the aircraft.

IAF Steps Up Modernisation

The transport aircraft tender is part of a wider modernisation drive by the Indian Air Force.

The IAF has already issued a tender for 114 Rafale fighter jets as it seeks to strengthen its fighter fleet and address the shortage of operational squadrons.

The force is also considering the procurement of more than 100 trainer aircraft to replace its ageing Hawk jet trainers and expand pilot training capacity.

The expansion of training infrastructure has become increasingly important as the IAF works to support the induction of additional fighter aircraft.

Aircraft May Support Refuelling

The proposed multirole transport aircraft could have roles beyond conventional cargo and troop movement.

According to defence officials, the IAF may also explore using the aircraft as aerial refuelling tankers, allowing fighter aircraft and other platforms to remain airborne for longer periods.

The aircraft would also provide the capability to rapidly move troops, military equipment and supplies across India's large geographical area.

Such a capability would be particularly relevant for India's operational requirements along its land borders.

Push for Domestic Manufacturing

The programme is expected to strengthen India's domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem by requiring a substantial portion of the aircraft to be produced locally.

The participation of companies such as HAL, Tata and Mahindra, alongside international original equipment manufacturers, could also expand technology transfer, local supply chains and manufacturing capabilities.

The tender represents another major step in India's effort to build a stronger indigenous defence industry while reducing reliance on imported military platforms.

The final selection will depend on technical evaluations, commercial considerations and the government's assessment of the competing proposals.