At the end of March, the Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a contract with U.S.-based company Metrea to provide support for pilot training using its commercial KC-135 tanker aircraft. The deal includes aircraft maintenance and the provision of necessary flight crews. The decision aims to replace the aging fleet of Ilyushin Il-78MKI tankers, which have been in service since 2003 and have faced significant challenges in maintaining the operational levels required by the IAF for several years.
According to details known about the agreement, the aircraft will be stationed at the Indian Air Force Station in Agra, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Official reports indicate that the first units are expected to arrive within the next six months. In parallel, the Indian Ministry of Defence is finalizing a separate agreement with its French counterpart for the lease of additional A330 tanker aircraft. It is worth noting that the arrival of these tankers will not only strengthen the IAF’s pilot training programs, but will also benefit the Indian Navy and its pilots once the program is fully underway.
It is important to recall that India’s need for tanker aircraft has been longstanding. Between 2010 and 2016, the availability rate of the Il-78MKI fleet was only 49% for missions requiring refueling capabilities. Aiming to meet the IAF’s requirement for around 70% availability, India previously attempted to acquire A330 tankers in both 2009 and 2013, but both efforts fell through due to high associated costs.
Given this context, the decision to contract Metrea’s aircraft does not come as a surprise—especially since the company has significant credentials of its own. According to its official website, Metrea operates a total of 18 tanker aircraft, making it one of the largest fleets of its kind in the world—outperforming most air forces globally in both number and capability. The company’s position was further strengthened after acquiring more than a dozen C-135FR and KC-135RG aircraft formerly operated by the French Air and Space Force.
Moreover, Metrea has an extensive track record of cooperation with various Western governments, including contracts with the United States and the United Kingdom, and has logged over 130,000 flight hours. Focusing on aerial refueling operations, the company’s aircraft are equipped with two underwing refueling pods, featuring multi-point refueling systems (MPRS) compatible with a wide array of platforms used by these countries.
James Morgan, Metrea’s Director of Strategic Mobility, stated: “It is an honor for Metrea to collaborate with the Indian Air Force. Our contract will rapidly expand their AAR training capacity and enable broad opportunities for training, exercises, and deployment to enhance IAF readiness.”
Finally, reviewing some of the options considered by the Indian Air Force to address the tanker shortfall, two main alternatives emerge. The first involves acquiring up to six new aircraft, with Airbus and Boeing seen as the leading contenders according to local reports. Additionally, in 2022, New Delhi initiated a Memorandum of Understanding between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries to convert Boeing 767 commercial aircraft for use by the IAF—though few updates have surfaced since. Complementing these efforts, an agreement was also signed with the Australian government allowing RAAF tanker aircraft to refuel Indian allies, in effect since November of last year.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
