The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in India has issued two distinct requests for information (RFI) to acquire 60 multi-role transport aircraft and 150 trainer planes for Indian Air Force (IAF), which could be one of the country’s largest domestic military aviation programmes.
The transport aircraft programme costs are estimated to be around Rs 1 lakh crore of which government has decided to focus on domestic manufacture to ensure Atmanirbhar Bharat. The biggest rivals are likely to be Tata Group, Mahindra Group and state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Through its C-295 programme with Airbus, Tata has consolidated its presence in the Indian Aerospace market, even comprising aircraft assembly facilities in Gujarat. The proposed transport fleet is to replace or augment the aging tactical airlifter fleet and enhance the military’s capacity to transport personnel, equipment and supplies in areas that pose challenges such as the Himalayas and the island territories of India.
This second RFI is for 150 trainer aircraft, part of a programme expected to cost Rs 15,000 crore. However, HAL might have an edge in the game as it already has the basic trainer aircraft called HTT-40 and also has manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.
It is hoped that the duo of programmes will give a big boost to the Indian defence and aerospace ecosystem, not only to the large defence and aerospace Major Original Equippers (MOE), but also to the small and medium-sized (SME) component suppliers.
The procurements are still in their initial stages (RFIs). Formal tenders, technical evaluations and commercial negotiations will have to be carried out prior to the award of the contract. The deals, however, reflect a new shift towards self-reliant manufacture of defense platforms and aircrafts in India.