Six pre-owned B-767s will probably be transformed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) into aerial refuellers, because the IAF’s older Russian Il-78MKIs expertise availability points.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for buying six Boeing B-767 airliners to be transformed into aerial refuellers by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), studies on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13, 2025, mentioned. A last contract signing is anticipated by March.
Meant to interchange an equal variety of the Indian Air Drive’s older and problematic Ilyushin Il-78MKIs, the brand new tankers have been talked about in studies in regards to the deal circulating since October 2025. On the time, a report from Aerospace International Information quoted an MoD official who mentioned: “Since India already has a long-standing working relationship with Israel Plane Industries, it makes the transition smoother and the oversight course of less complicated.”
India operates a mixture of Russian Su-30MKIs and MiG-29UPGs, French Mirage 2000s and Rafales, Jaguar strike plane, and the home LCA Tejas Mk1. The point out of the connection with IAI is a reference to the work undertaken to transform six Russian Il-76s into Airborne Early Warning and Management (AEW&C) plane because the Phalcon system, and among the now retired MiG-21Bis with superior electronics, shows and helmet-mounted-displays.
–#IndianAirForce to purchase 6 B767 multi-role tankers for ₹9000 cr-Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) & HAL will do the conversion-Contract is prone to be signed earlier than the top of FY-Possible induction into service by early 2029-IAF has been fighting the serviceability price… pic.twitter.com/y959qvhFpZ
— Insightful Geopolitics (@InsightGL) January 12, 2026
It should be famous that an AoN, granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), is simply the acknowledgement of an acquisition want, and doesn’t essentially translate into a proper contract. Defence.in put the worth of the acquisition at Rs. 9,000 crore ($900 million), whereas different claims have mentioned the deal additionally includes 30% native manufacturing, associated to the conversion program, in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL).
Different studies mentioned that the deal may obtain a last clearance by March, with IAI starting the acquisition of the B-767 from the open market, previous to the conversion. Deliveries are anticipated to start by 2030 with two plane, adopted by two plane annually, when the IAF will start the drawdown of the Il-78s.
India’s tanker saga to this point
The IAF acquired six Russian-made Ilyushin Il-78M mid-air refueller plane in 2001-02 from Uzbekistan, as unfinished but model new Il-76 platforms, and commenced induction from 2003 onwards. All six have been delivered by 2004 and assigned to the IAF’s No. 78 Squadron at Agra Air Drive Station (AFS) in northern India.
In 2006, the MoD issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for six extra tankers, with two of the contenders being the Il-78 and the Airbus A330 Multi-Function Tanker Transport (MRTT). Within the subsequent down choice, following in depth consumer analysis and comparative trials, the IAF selected the A330 MRTT and communicated the selection to the Ministry of Finance.
For a collection of unknown but presumable causes that may be safely attributed to India’s vexed protection procurement course of, unusually extra weak to bureaucratic and political exigencies than presumably some other nation, the procurement didn’t progress. Sources say the MoF cited budgetary constraints, and the “file didn’t transfer” till 2010, when the MoF and the MoD restarted this system with a recent, second RFP.
A persistent concern of corruption allegations by opposition events or shedding rivals – which has introduced down governments and seen the arrest of even a former IAF chief and protection executives – forces MoD bureaucrats to hyper study recordsdata earlier than signing off on them. The practically dozen multi-billion protection scandals in India stem from a political management missing strategic readability, and a demanding army brass that refuses any comparatively inferior weapons, for any long run financial and protection self-reliance advantages.
Primarily based on a modified IL 76 airframe, the IL 78 MKI is an #IAF aerial refuelling platform.Able to refuelling a number of plane concurrently & thus rising their flying ranges manyfold, it performs an necessary function in enhancing the strategic attain of IAF.#IAFCapabilities pic.twitter.com/5uJp6r2nqL
— Indian Air Drive (@IAF_MCC) July 21, 2022
The second RFP lingered on till 2016, when “pricing” and “price” points once more put the brakes on this system, finally main it to being cancelled. A 3rd RFP, once more for six mid-air refuellers, was issued in 2018, with Boeing, Airbus and Ilyushin collaborating. At the moment, the IAF declined a suggestion to purchase extra Il-78s, after it had skilled poor assist from the producer.
The prevailing Il-78 fleet had been bothered with extreme availability and maintainability points, and issues with its hose-and-drogue refueling system. The Hindustan Instances reported in August 2017 a Comptroller and Auditor Common (CAG) report – equal to the U.S. Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) – discovering an Il-78 mission readiness price at 49%, a lot lower than the IAF’s desired 70%. Different points included insufficient and incomplete runway extension tasks, absence of any assist infrastructure at 10 airfields, just one devoted upkeep hangar and an underground hydrant refueling system (HRS) out there at solely two air bases.
By Mar. 28, 2025, the MoD introduced a contract with non-public firm Metrea to moist lease a KC-135 Stratotanker as a stop-arrangement till planners evolve a longer-term resolution. The identical day, Scramble reported that the MoD had additionally authorised a moist lease of a French Air and House Drive A330 MRTT for 3 years. This might additionally serve to familiarize IAF personnel with the A330 MRTT.
#MakingHistory : MID AIR REFUELING TRIALS OF LCA WITH IL-78 MKI – On 04 Sep 18, IAF efficiently carried out the first ever Air to Air refueling of the indigenously construct fighter plane Tejas MK1 with an IL-78 tanker plane.
Particulars on pic.twitter.com/gjN8imATPS
— Indian Air Drive (@IAF_MCC) September 5, 2018
What occurred to the 2018 RFP isn’t but recognized, however moist leased plane operated by international entities will not be prone to stay current within the nation throughout wartime, when the IAF is prone to revert to its older Il-78MKIs.
It’s nonetheless not clear if the upcoming contract with IAI for the B-767s is part of the 2018 RFP, however the truth that studies didn’t point out different rivals whereas mentioning the AoN grant suggests it could possibly be a direct single supply purchase by way of an expedited, non-competitive route. The Aviationist remains to be awaiting readability from MoD officers on this entrance.
IAI B-767 MMTT
It should be famous that the B-767, on which IAI’s Multi-Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) relies, can also be the bottom platform for the U.S. Air Drive’s KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueler. IAI’s web site advertises a Colombian Aerospace Drive (CAF) KC-767 “Jupiter” refueller, the only real such plane in CAF service, it has transformed for the aim, with two underwing hose and drogue refueling programs.
IAI is single vendor in bid to produce IAF with six tankers for ₹8,000 cr– Modified Boeing 767– More likely to bag deal as others didn’t meet reqmnts incl. 3-30% IC needVia: HAL & IAI have an MoU for B767 tankers, so if this goes by way of a part of the… pic.twitter.com/OGg7NqXuJs
— Adithya Krishna Menon (@AdithyaKM_) October 27, 2025
IAI says that the B-767 MMTT can also be configured concurrently for “cargo, VIP, passengers and ISR programs as desired by the operator.” Furthermore, “every plane configuration features a particular cargo door and built-in cargo pallet capabilities, in addition to passenger seats and consoles that may be quickly put in or eliminated.”
The B-767 and its variants are in the meantime a preferred freighters and passenger plane which Boeing nonetheless produces, with the corporate saying in October 2024 that it could stop the mannequin’s manufacturing solely in 2027. This retains the airframe related for the IAF for a minimum of a full decade after supply.
