New Delhi: In response to the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Request For Information (RFI) for a Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) with a carrying capacity of 18 to 30 tonnes, Airbus has submitted its A-400M transport aircraft as a potential option. With this there are three contenders now, the other two being the Lockheed Martin C-130 and Embraer C-390.
The RFI was issued in December 2022 and later the submission deadline was extended till March 31. The MTA is a potential replacement for the much smaller AN-32s in service, and could also replace the larger IL-76.
According to a media report, Jean-Brice Dumont, the head of Military Air Systems at Airbus, confirmed that they have responded to the RFI and offered the A400. He said the A400 has the advantage of carrying twice the payload over twice the range compared to its competitors.
“Yes, we have responded to the RFI and offered the A-400. It is a value addition. The A-400 carries twice the payload to twice the range than the competitors. It is bigger than the others [in competition],” Jean-Brice Dumont, head of Military Air Systems, Airbus, said while speaking to a small group of visiting journalists from India. “It’s about showing how we bring value,” he said.
Venkat Katkuri, the head of Airbus Defence and Space in India, mentioned that the contest is in RFI stage and they have expressed their interest to the Indian Air Force. Responding to a question on the possibility of incorporating a ‘Make in India’ component as part of the potential deal, similar to the C-295 transport aircraft, Katkuri said that they were open to the idea and willing to industrialise the A400 with viable numbers.
According to the RFI, the aim is to commence deliveries of the selected platform within 36 months of contract signing. The specific number of MTAs required is not specified in the RFI, but vendors have been asked to provide a ‘Rough Order of Magnitude cost of aircraft and associated equipment’ for batches of 40, 60, and 80 aircraft, respectively.
Airbus is offering the A400M as a replacement for older aircraft such as the C-160, C-130, and IL-76. The A400M is seen as a game-changer for the IAF, capable of carrying heavy loads over long distances and reaching altitudes of up to 40,000 feet. With a maximum payload of 37 tonnes, it has received 178 orders from 10 countries, with more orders expected by 2030.
“The A400M has the ability to deliver mission-critical equipment to short and unpaved airstrips where other aircraft like the IL-76 and C-17 cannot operate,” said Roberto Martinez, Airbus’ A400M marketing manager. The C-130 has a maximum carrying capacity close to 20 tonnes, while the C-390 can carry up to 26 tonnes.
Considered to be the workhorses of the force, around 100 AN-32s are currently being operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). These aircraft have undergone upgrades as part of a $400-million deal signed with Ukraine in 2009. The IAF’s transport fleet includes a variety of aircraft. These include the AN-32s and Avro aircraft, as well as heavy transport aircraft like the IL-76 and mid-air refuelling tankers like the IL-78, which are all from Russia. In addition, the fleet also consists of 12 C-130J Super Hercules and 11 C-17 Globemaster strategic airlift aircraft, which are from the United States.
The MTA is an opportunity to replace the AN-32s with an aircraft of higher carrying capacity, given the changed requirements and circumstances and could potentially be considered to carry the light tank, according to a defence source and officials.
Last year in September, the Defence Ministry signed a Rs 21,935 crore contract with Airbus Defence and Space SA, Spain for the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft to replace the Avro aircraft in service with the IAF. Airbus in a partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is setting up a ‘Final Assembly Line’ in Vadodara, Gujarat as part of the deal.
