The Search Continues

Mohammad Asif Khan

Having failed to buy refueller aircraft, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is now exploring different options to bolster its refuelling capabilities, including converting Boeing 767s into Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRAs). In April 2023, the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel’s Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert civil (passenger) aircraft to multi mission tanker transport (MMTT) aircraft in India.

A330 MRTT with Mirage 2000 (Photomontage)

According to the HAL press release, the partners will convert pre-owned aircraft into air refuelling aircraft with cargo and transport capabilities. The scope of MoU also covers ‘passenger to freighter aircraft’ conversion along with MMTT conversions,’ the release said. The MoU was signed in Delhi by CEO (MiG Complex), HAL, D. Maiti, and vice president and general manager, aviation group, IAI, Yaacov Berkovitz in the presence of joint secretary (Aero), ministry of defence, Chandraker Bharati.

HAL chairman and managing director R. Madhavan referred to the possible cooperation as “one of the strategic diversification avenues identified by HAL.” IAI president and chief executive officer Boaz Levy said by collaborating on MMTT with the HAL, the IAI would be “supporting the Make in India campaign”.

An aircraft equipped with specialised systems to refuel other aircraft in mid-flight, extending their operational range and endurance, the FRA is a critical capability for air forces around the world. The IAF, which currently operates the ageing fleet of six IL-78 Midas, has been looking to acquire modern FRA for many years. The IL-78s, a variation of 1985’s IL-76 transport aircraft, was inducted into the IAF in 2003. The veteran platform, equipped with Israeli fuel transmission system, has reached a point of diminishing returns. Maintenance challenges, particularly pertaining to their refuelling pods persist, often ground them, compromising their operational readiness.

“Nobody denies the fact that India needs air-to-air refuelling. The IL-78 is an old aircraft and it has issues. These matters have to be taken into consideration in the long run,” says Gp Capt R.K. Narang (Retd). According to him, options like converting existing aircraft to an FRA would be a cost-effective solution. Given t