https://sputniknews.in/20250303/russian-mid-air-refuelers-to-strengthen-indias-aircraft-fleet-8826529.html
Russian Mid-Air Refuellers to Strengthen India's Aircraft Fleet
Russian Mid-Air Refuellers to Strengthen India's Aircraft Fleet
Sputnik India
As US military aviation faces a crisis, with the F-35 and KC-46 falling apart, Russia offers India technological breakthroughs, localisation, and transfer of... 03.03.2025, Sputnik India
2025-03-03T22:00+0530
2025-03-03T22:00+0530
2025-03-04T14:44+0530
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Russia's newest air-to-air refueller, the Il-78M-90A (Il-476), will significantly bolster the Indian Air Force's fleet of combat jets. This enhancement is particularly noteworthy given the Indian military's longstanding familiarity with Russian defence equipment, experts told Sputnik India.The IAF needs at least a dozen mid-air refuellers for long-range missions, particularly to conduct operations in the Arabian Sea, the Malacca Strait, and the Red Sea, according to retired Group Captain Uttam Kumar Devnath.IAF's operations may extend to the Persian Gulf like it happen, will significantly bolster the Indian Air Force's fleet of combat jets, experts tolkd Sputnik india. This enhancement is particularly noteworthy given the Indian military's longstanding familiarity with Russian defence equipment, tbelieve.The IAF needs at least a dozen mid-air refuellers for long-range missions, particularly to conduct operations in the in its fleet of aircraft, the IAF veteran reckoned.At present, the IAF uses IL-78MKI to refuel its warplanes mid-air, finding it highly reliable. Moreover, India has used the Airbus A330 MRTT due to certain factors, especially at times when the IAF is flying the Mirage 2000 for mid-life upgrades or Rafale aircraft for drills to France, Devnath highlighted. Similarly, Boeing, the manufacturer of KC-46 tanker aircraft, has already offered the aircraft to the IAF in 2021, according to Financial Express.Notably, the US Air Force has decided to carry out inspections on KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tankers in its fleet comprising nearly 90 such aircraft after cracks appeared on two new planes that were about to be delivered to its Military Delivery Centre, geopolitical website The War Zone reported on March 1.As majority of IAF's fighter jets are of Russian origin, including over 260 Su-30 MKIs with 12 more to be produced in India, it makes sense for India to acquire mid-air refuellers from Russia, he asserted. "One must never forget that Russia would be happy to transfer technology to India, allowing it to manufacture them at home," Devnath highlighted, pointing out that the US, on the other hand, remains reluctant to offer similar deal. The Russian offer could be far more lucrative because it would transform India into a manufacturing hub of air-to-air refuellers, potentially opening up avenues for exports much like the case with the Su-30s, the pundit underscored.He mentioned that last month, India signed a contract with Malaysia to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for Malaysia's fleet of Su-30s, which were procured from Russia.India should lease the KC-46 tanker aircraft from the US only after the US Air Force submits the report to investigate the cracks. Alternatively, other nation's tanker aircraft should be considered and only after due consideration should they be inducted, retired Lieutenant Colonel JS Sodhi, a an Indian Army ex-officer told Sputnik India.
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Russian Mid-Air Refuellers to Strengthen India's Aircraft Fleet
22:00 03.03.2025 (Updated: 14:44 04.03.2025) As US military aviation faces a crisis, with the F-35 and KC-46 falling apart, Russia offers India technological breakthroughs, localisation, and transfer of technology, boosting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Russia's newest air-to-air refueller, the Il-78M-90A (Il-476), will significantly bolster the Indian Air Force's fleet of combat jets. This enhancement is particularly noteworthy given the Indian military's longstanding familiarity with Russian defence equipment, experts told Sputnik India.
The IAF needs at least a dozen mid-air refuellers for long-range missions, particularly to conduct operations in the Arabian Sea, the Malacca Strait, and the Red Sea, according to retired Group Captain Uttam Kumar Devnath.
"For example, India's air surveillance aircraft Netra, besides fighter jets like Su-30MKI, Mirage, Rafale, and MiG-29, require air-to-air refuelling when deployed at distances beyond 1000 kilometres. That's why mid-air refuelling is essential to IAF's dominance of the air space over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)," Devnath told Sputnik India on Monday.
IAF's operations may extend to the Persian Gulf like it happen, will significantly bolster the Indian Air Force's fleet of combat jets, experts tolkd Sputnik india. This enhancement is particularly noteworthy given the Indian military's longstanding familiarity with Russian defence equipment, tbelieve.
The IAF needs at least a dozen mid-air refuellers for long-range missions, particularly to conduct operations in the in its fleet of aircraft, the IAF veteran reckoned.
At present, the IAF uses IL-78MKI to refuel its warplanes mid-air, finding it highly reliable. Moreover, India has used the Airbus A330 MRTT due to certain factors, especially at times when the IAF is flying the Mirage 2000 for mid-life upgrades or Rafale aircraft for drills to France, Devnath highlighted.
Similarly, Boeing, the manufacturer of KC-46 tanker aircraft, has already offered the aircraft to the IAF in 2021, according to Financial Express.
Notably, the US Air Force has decided to carry out inspections on KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tankers in its fleet comprising nearly 90 such aircraft after cracks appeared on two new planes that were about to be delivered to its Military Delivery Centre, geopolitical website The War Zone reported on March 1.
"However, going by my personal experience, India should procure Russia's latest air-to-air refuellers, Il-78M-90A (Il-476), considering these aircraft would complement the IAF's Russian origin fleet in a big way," the military pundit emphasised.
As majority of IAF's fighter jets are of Russian origin, including over 260 Su-30 MKIs with 12 more to be produced in India, it makes sense for India to acquire mid-air refuellers from Russia, he asserted.
"One must never forget that Russia would be happy to transfer technology to India, allowing it to manufacture them at home," Devnath highlighted, pointing out that the US, on the other hand, remains reluctant to offer similar deal.
The Russian offer could be far more lucrative because it would transform India into a manufacturing hub of air-to-air refuellers, potentially
opening up avenues for exports much like the case with the Su-30s, the pundit underscored.
He mentioned that last month, India signed a contract with Malaysia to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for Malaysia's fleet of Su-30s, which were procured from Russia.
India should lease the KC-46 tanker aircraft from the US only after the US Air Force submits the report to investigate the cracks. Alternatively, other nation's tanker aircraft should be considered and only after due consideration should they be inducted, retired Lieutenant Colonel JS Sodhi, a an Indian Army ex-officer told Sputnik India.
"Russia has always been forthcoming for Transfer of Technology (ToT) for any weapon systems and defence platforms. ToT should be an important consideration for India to import weapon systems and platforms as it will give a huge fillip to Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, apart from ensuring uninterrupted supply of these items in case of any adversity," Sodhi stressed.
