MOD Approved Procurement Of 06 Boeing 767 Based Multirole Aerial Refuelling Aircraft.

New Delhi; January 2026: India’s Ministry of Defence has approved the conversion of 06 Boeing 767 aircrafts into aerial refuelling aircraft (MRTT), aimed at enhancing the operational reach of the Indian Air Force. Valued at an estimated 90 billion Indian rupees ($1.1 billion). As per schedule, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), in partnership with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will convert the 06 pre-owned Boeing 767 airliners into aerial refuelling aircraft.

IAI emerged as the sole remaining bidder in the competition after European and Russian contenders reportedly failed to meet India’s technical and local production requirements. A final contract signing is expected by March 2026. Upon approval, IAI plans will modify using about 30% Indian-made parts and services, a move aimed at boosting local involvement in foreign defence projects.

Earlier the Indian ministry Of Defence (MOD) had issued Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in the month of January 2025. It must be noted that an AoN, granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), is only the acknowledgement of an acquisition need, and does not necessarily translate into a formal contract. Deliveries are expected to commence by 2030 with two aircraft, followed by two aircraft each year, when the IAF will begin the drawdown of the Il-78s.

On 28th March 2025, the MoD announced a contract with private company Metrea to wet lease a KC-135 Stratotanker as a stop-arrangement until planners evolve a longer-term solution. The same day, MoD had also approved a wet lease of a French Air and Space Force A330 MRTT for three years. This would also serve to familiarize IAF personnel with the A330 MRTT.

The converted aircrafts are intended to replace the Indian Air Force’s aging fleet of 06 Ilyushin Il-78MKI tankers, whose persistent operational and maintenance challenges have kept availability below expected levels. Procured in 2003, the Russian-origin aircraft have reached the end of their effective service life and are increasingly unable to support the long-range operational requirements of frontline aircraft such as the Rafale, Su-30MKI, and indigenous Tejas variants, according to official sources. A report by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General highlighted multiple shortcomings, including faulty refuelling pods, inadequate repair facilities, and weak maintenance support from the manufacturer.

The procurement comes as India moves to significantly expand its fighter aircraft inventory with a mix of indigenous and foreign-made platforms.

According to market projections, India is expected to invest around $82.6 billion in fixed-wing aircraft over the next decade. The Defence Acquisition Council recently cleared procurement of 114 multirole fighter aircraft at an estimated cost of 3.25 trillion Indian rupees ($36 billion).

Earlier, the Ministry of Defence contracted HAL for the acquisition of 97 additional indigenously built Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force under a deal valued at approximately $7 billion.

Aerial refuelling aircraft are force multipliers rather than frontline platforms, but their impact on airpower projection is profound. By modernising this capability, India enhances effective range, endurance, and deterrence, enabling frontline aircraft to operate deeper into contested airspace beyond its terrestrial borders.

The Boeing 767, designed in 05 different base variants, is 61 metres (200 feet) in length, has a wingspan of 52 metres (171 feet), and requires a minimum of three personnel, including two pilots and a boom operator.

The aircraft is slightly heavier than the Russian Ilyushin platform currently in use, having an empty weight of up to 82,377 kilograms (181,610 pounds).

It can carry up to 67,100 kilograms (147,930 pounds) of cargo and has a fuel transfer rate of over 4,000 liters (1,057 gallons) per minute, depending on configuration.

The 767 can be fitted with either Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, or General Electric engines to attain a maximum speed of 500 knots (926 kilometres/575 miles per hour), a flight range of 6,590 nautical miles (12,205 kilometres/7,584 miles), and an operational altitude of 13,100 metres (42,979 feet).

It must be noted that the B-767, on which IAI’s Multi-Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) is based, is also the base platform for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueler. IAI has advertised a Colombian Aerospace Force (CAF) KC-767 “Jupiter” refueller, the sole such aircraft in CAF service, it has converted for the purpose, with two underwing hose and drogue refueling systems.

What happened to the 2018 RFP is not yet known, but wet leased aircraft operated by foreign entities are not likely to remain present in the country during wartime, when the IAF is likely to revert to its older Il-78MKIs.

It is still not clear if the upcoming contract with IAI for the B-767s is a part of the 2018 RFP, but the fact that reports did not mention other competitors while mentioning the AoN grant suggests it could be a direct single source buy through an expedited, non-competitive route.

Team Maverick.