The IAF should consider converting civilian B767/A330 class ac as mil transports to reduce the wear and tear on the C-17 fleet imo. But the window of opportunity may be closing now that civil air traffic is picking up again.
Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) for IAF
- Thread starter Fatalis
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Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Announce Agreement to Expand C-130J Super Hercules Opportunities in India
Agreement Supports India's Medium Transport Aircraft Program and New Maintenance Facility
DELHI, India, Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have entered into a teaming agreement to expand upon the companies' business relationship through the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter. This announcement marks a significant step in enhancing India's defence and aerospace capabilities while also deepening India-U.S. strategic ties.
This agreement provides a framework for collaboration on future potential business opportunities to include:
- Establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the Indian Air Force's (IAF) existing fleet of 12 C-130Js as well as other global Super Hercules fleets;
- Expanding C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India to produce aircraft for the IAF's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, subject to U.S. and Indian government approvals.
"Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposition for IAF's MTA project is a milestone for Tata Advanced Systems," said Sukaran Singh, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems. "The current announcement is also significant as it marks the entry of Tata Advanced Systems into the defence MRO space in India for large aircraft platforms. This also helps towards a deeper relationship between the two companies, adding to the aerostructure work by Tata Advanced Systems for Lockheed Martin platforms."
"The C-130J is known as the world's workhorse, not just for its large global presence, but also for its international supply chain partners including the single source provider of empennages — Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited in Hyderabad," said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility and Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin. "This teaming agreement between Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems further demonstrates Lockheed Martin's commitment to a self-reliant India and the degree of confidence that exists in our relationships with our partners in India and the Indian industry at large."
The IAF is actively seeking to acquire up to 80 medium transport aircraft and issued a request for information (RFI) last year. Lockheed Martin responded to the RFI as the C-130J-30 Super Hercules is ideally suited to meet the requirements.
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have a long-standing partnership through the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd., (TLMAL) joint venture. Established in 2010, TLMAL exemplifies the government of India's "Make in India" objectives and has the distinction of being the single global source of C-130J empennage assemblies included on all new Super Hercules aircraft produced in the United States. To date, TLMAL has manufactured more than 220 C-130J empennages.
Medium Transport Aircraft to be procured will replace AN-32 and IL-76 fleets of IAF
The Medium Transport Aircraft, in the 18-30 tonne category, that is planned to be procured by the Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to be a common replacement for the aging AN-32 and IL-76 transport aircraft fleet.The AN-32 is the workhorse of the IAF with over 100 aircraft in service and the IL-76 with over 40 tonne load capacity is in the heavy lift category. A combined replacement shows the changing transport requirements of the force.
“As far as the MTA is concerned, the fleet that is aging is the AN-32 and IL-76. We need to find a replacement for these. The decision that has been taken is we will go for a common aircraft of 18-30 tonnes and for that the RFI has been issued. We have not shortlisted which aircraft we will be going for,” IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said on Thursday.
The IAF issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a MTA in December 2022 with a load carrying capacity between 18 to 30 tonnes for up to 80 aircraft. A comprehensive study was also carried out to identify the current and future payload carrying requirements of the force. There are three responses to the RFI which include Airbus A-400M, Lockheed Martin C-130 and Embraer C-390. Among them, the A-400M has a maximum carrying capacity of 37 tonnes, the C-130 close to 20 tonnes and the C-390 can carry up to 26 tonnes.
The 2020 standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh has changed the nature of airlift and the support for the Army required in high altitude areas. There is a huge gap in carrying capacities at the moment with the current aircraft which needs to adjusted, as reported earlier.
The transport fleet of the IAF currently consists of over 100 AN-32s, 56 AVROs in the process of being replaced with the Airbus C-295, IL-76 heavy transports, and IL-78 mid-air refuelling tankers from Russia, 12 C-130J Super Hercules and 11 C-17 Globemaster strategic airlift aircraft from the U.S. Of these, the IL-76 has a capacity to list 45-50 tonnes and the C-17 up to 70 tonnes.
As the deal makes progress, U.S. defence major Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) announced collaboration for establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the IAF’s fleet of 12 C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft as well as other global C-130J fleets.
Similarly, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly bid for the MTA tender.
The MTA fits a critical requirement of the Army which is looking on the process of procuring a light tank weighing up to 25 tonnes for deployment in the mountains especially in Eastern Ladakh. So, IAF needs sizeable number of aircraft to airlift them.
In September 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹21,935 crore contract with Airbus and Space S.A., Spain for procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft, with a capacity of nine tonnes, to replace the Avro aircraft in service.
While the RFI did not specify the number of MTA required, vendors have been asked to provide “Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost of aircraft and associated equipment” for a batch of 40, 60 and 80 aircraft. With the IAF deciding to make MTA replacement for both AN-32 and IL-76, clarity on the numbers is now awaited.
Poll added. 
It appears that the Embraer C390 is best suited to meet the requirements. It has a clear advantage in airlifting light tank and FICV. The Airbus A400M is extremely expensive to purchase and operate. It has all the disadvantages of a European collaboration, like the Eurofighter and Tiger. I wish the Kawasaki C-2 were in the race. We could have localized it with only an active production line and even exported it. Japanese need to wake up!.
It appears that the Embraer C390 is best suited to meet the requirements. It has a clear advantage in airlifting light tank and FICV. The Airbus A400M is extremely expensive to purchase and operate. It has all the disadvantages of a European collaboration, like the Eurofighter and Tiger. I wish the Kawasaki C-2 were in the race. We could have localized it with only an active production line and even exported it. Japanese need to wake up!.
I think a portion of An-32 RE will be replaced by C-295Ws. The An-32 RE can do 7.5 tons payload while C295W can do 7 tons. In special cases it can be overloaded to 9 tons. So it's a perfect replacement.
I see half of An32 squadrons getting C295s and other half C390s.