The Defense Ministry is considering a French proposal to acquire six government-to-government Airbus 330 Multi-Function Transport Tanker (MRTT) aircraft to expand the strike capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF) by purchasing the last aircraft in flight. refuelers.
The IAF now operates seven Russian IL-76 M refuelers with Pakistan acquiring four of the same refuelers from Ukraine and China operating three of the same Russian refuelers along with 10 old modified versions of Russian bombers.
According to South Block officials, while the IAF wanted to obtain an Airbus 330 MRTT on lease with crew from a British company, the French proposal involves the sale of six 5-7 year aircraft to the IAF with a certification of another 30 years of life of the platform at a greatly reduced price.
The IAF has been eager to acquire an MRTT for the past decade, and the previous Request for Proposal (RFP) expired to no avail.
According to a former chief of the Indian Air Force who did not want to be identified, the Airbus 330 MRTT platform has much larger wings than the Airbus 340m, so the plane can refuel two airborne fighter jets at the same time via drugs. (attached to the wing capsules) or a central refueling arm system.
The best part of the Airbus aircraft is that it can carry 260 people in the cabin and fuel in the cargo hold thanks to its high-power, high-efficiency engines. The MRTT can simply be converted into a tanker truck or transport or air ambulance or all three at the same time with a total crew of three.
Airborne refuelers are key to expanding the operational coverage of IAF and Indian Navy carrier-based fighter jets by extending their range. According to the former IAF chief cited above, an airborne refueling can be used to extend the flight of a Su-30 MKI or Rafale that flies from Port Blair to the Straits of Sunda, Lombard and Malacca for missions of freedom of navigation.
“The French proposal is beneficial for the IAF, as the international market for aerial platforms is down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The aircraft is fuel-efficient and has high-powered engines to operate from high-altitude air bases in Ladakh such as Leh, Thoise and Nyoma and at the same time transport troops or conduct medical evacuations if necessary, ”said a senior IAF official, requesting anonymity. .
.
