Need of Flight Refueler Aircraft (FRA)
Aerial refuelling has now become foundation of military operations worldwide as a number of military operations require long-range, high payload or time-sensitive capabilities. The strength of air force is in rapid deployment compared to conventional forces. Air refuelling increases deployment speed by eliminating en route stops. Air refuelling extends aircraft range to the limit of the aircrew, making strategic targets accessible to tactical aircraft. It also enables fighter jets to carry greater payload as the they don’t have to carry additional drop tanks. This the reason why the Flight Refueler Aircraft (FRA) is called force multipliers.
Indian Air Force’s Refueller
In March 2003, IAF received six Uzbekistan-made Ilyushin IL-78MKI flight refuelling aircraft (FRA) with a Russian airframe based on the IL-76 and an Israeli fuel transfer system. These FRAs are capable of refuelling three jets at a time. A total of six to eight Su-30MKIs may be refuelled in a single mission.
However, these refuellers are facing 2 challenges which includes serviceability and availability. The serviceability of these refuellers is expected to be 70%, however it has been significantly lower than 50 per cent. The other challenge has been spares and maintenance from the original equipment manufacturers.
IAF needs 6 more refuellers
Considering the service availability of Il-78 refuellers and two front war situation, Indian Air Force is in desperate need for at least needs 6 more air refuellers. The endeavour for the same has started with an RFI back in January 2018. The competitors for this requirement are IL-78, AirBus A330 MRTT, Boeing KC-46 Pegasus & Boeing 767-300ER multi-mission tanker transport (MMTT).
As per the 30th August report of the Indian Express, The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to revive the process of procuring six mid-air refuellers after failing to make any headway during two earlier attempts over the last two decades. This is the IAF’s third attempt since 2007 to buy the tankers. Two of its earlier tenders were scrapped due to pricing disputes.
As per report, IAF is looking to procure six “pre-owned” aircraft — these can be modified into tankers — to meet its requirement of refuellers so that they can serve for 25 to 30 years. The RFP for the refuellers will be floated within 6-months to invite the bids.
HAL & IAI MoU for MMTT
The DPSU HAL has come up with cost effective solution for air refuellers. On 6th April 2022, HAL and Israel Aerospace Industries had signed MoU for Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT). Under the pact , HAL will convert pre-owned Civil (Passenger) aircraft into air refueling aircraft with cargo and transport capabilities. The move will provide India’s defence ecosystem with new capabilities and cost effective solutions in the market.
There are several civil airliners which will let go of their older aircraft models in the next three to four years as they make the transition to advanced aircraft with new engines. There will be an adequate number of pre-owned aircraft available in the market which can be procured at much lower cost and can be modified into tankers by HAL.
HAL is planning to acquire 6 Boeing-767s aircrafts that can be converted from civil to military version. It will be commenced by floating a global tender to purchase second-hand Boeing-767s from the market. The overall process is expected to take at least three to four years.
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus which is the aerial refuelling and strategic military transport aircraft of US Military is also based on Boeing’s 767 platform. It has fuel capacity of 106 ton and can carry 114 people.
In addition, HAL is also looking at converting Boeing-747s of Air India for dedicated cargo role. The aircrafts are available with Air India and have been recently pulled out from civilian role as they completed 20 years. The feasibility of it is also being ascertained.
Leasing of Mid-Air refueller
IAF is looking to lease a mid-air refuelling aircraft & will adopt a new methodology for the process based on the number of hours of availability per year as criteria. The leasing will be based on hours of availability per year indicating the minimum and maximum hours required.
The Chief of Air Staff has also told that “IAF is moving a case for procuring six FRA for meeting its operational requirements for which the Qualitative Requirements are being finalised. In the interim, to meet our current training requirements, a case is under progress to lease one FRA. RFI for wet lease was issued in March 2021 for which six vendors responded. Evaluation of same has been completed and the draft LoR is under process”.
Indian Defense Analysis 