TSAMTO, November 14th. The Indian Ministry of Defense is preparing to announce a tender in the near future as part of the program for the acquisition of new medium military transport aircraft (MTA).
According to the Hindustan Times, citing informed sources, the program may include the purchase of 40 to 80 aircraft. It will be organized according to the "Made in India" initiative, which provides for partial local production and technology transfer.
According to Scramble Magazine, it is expected that several global manufacturers of transport aircraft will participate in the tender, which are currently preparing bids or partnership agreements with the Indian industry.
The likely candidates are Embraer (KC-390 Millennium), Airbus (A-400M family and smaller variants with industrial partners), Lockheed Martin (C-130J Super Hercules), PJSC UAC (IL-276) and consortia involving Indian private companies such as Mahindra and Tata.. The American Lockheed Martin has entered into a partnership agreement with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), and Embraer – with Mahindra.
The Indian Air Force has determined the total payload of the new aircraft from 18 to 30 tons. A key requirement may be the ability to transport a 25-ton Zorawar light tank in the cargo hold. The new aircraft will be used for tactical transportation, amphibious assault, internal logistics, medical evacuation and cargo delivery, providing flexibility for both military and civilian operations, if necessary.
The Indian Ministry of Defense is expected to announce an official tender in early 2026 after receiving the "Acceptance of Necessity" at the next meeting of the Defense Procurement Council (DAC) of the Indian Ministry of Defense in late December 2025.
Recall that according to the request for Information (RFI) on the supply of medium-sized MTA aircraft, issued by the Indian Air Force in December 2022 and extended until March 31, 2023, aircraft with a payload capacity of 18-27 tons are being considered.
The request stated that the delivery of the platform is expected to begin within 36 months after the signing of the contract, the specific number of aircraft was not mentioned. Suppliers were asked to provide "the approximate cost of aircraft and related equipment" for the purchase of 40, 60 and 80 units.
Airbus offered the Indian Air Force the A-400M aircraft, which can carry a maximum payload of 37 tons. The maximum load capacity of the C-130 Hercules and IL-276 is about 20 tons, and the KC–390 is up to 26 tons.
Earlier, some Indian Air Force officials stated that the C-295MW (9 tons payload), 56 units of which were contracted to replace the HS-748 Avro, would also be considered as a potential replacement for the An-32, given that the current assembly line would be available after the completion of delivery of the ordered vehicles. However, based on the payload specified in the RFI, the C-295 does not meet the requirements for the candidate.
Thus, the AN-32, which will begin to be decommissioned from 2030-2032, can be replaced by a higher-capacity aircraft, taking into account the changed situation. Against the background of the 2020 confrontation in eastern Ladakh with China, India's Armed forces are adopting light tanks weighing about 25 tons. The MTA aircraft can potentially serve as a means for its operational transfer.
Currently, the Air Force operates about 100 AN-32 units, which were recently upgraded as part of an agreement signed with Ukraine in 2009. In September 2021, the Indian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Airbus Defense and Space to supply 56 BTA C-295MW aircraft to the country's Air Force to replace 50 obsolete HS-748 Avro aircraft in service since the mid-1960s.
