India has taken a major step toward modernizing its tactical airlift capabilities after the Defence Procurement Board approved a proposal to acquire 60 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The program, estimated to be worth about 1 trillion rupees ($10.9 billion), will now move to the Defence Acquisition Council for further review before a formal tender process begins. The aircraft are expected to be procured under the government’s “Buy and Make” policy, which combines direct imports with domestic production in collaboration with local industry partners. According to current plans, 12 aircraft will be delivered in fully built condition, while the remaining 48 units will be assembled in India through partnerships with domestic manufacturers. A significant portion of the components used in the locally assembled aircraft is expected to come from indigenous suppliers, supporting New Delhi’s push for self-reliance in defense production. The new fleet is intended to replace the Indian Air Force’s aging Soviet-era transport aircraft, including the Antonov An-32 and Ilyushin Il-76, which have been in service since the 1980s and are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Once operational, the aircraft will strengthen India’s logistics and mobility capabilities by supporting rapid troop deployment, cargo transport, and resupply operations. The platforms will also play a key role in supporting military activities in remote and high-altitude regions such as Ladakh along India’s northern borders. Several international aerospace manufacturers are expected to compete for the contract, including Airbus with the A400M Atlas, Lockheed Martin with the C-130J Super Hercules in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems, Embraer with the C-390 Millennium alongside Mahindra Defence, and Russia’s Ilyushin working with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
