India in advanced negotiations to lease an A330 MRTT from France

India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in advanced negotiations with the French government to lease one Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) for training purposes.

The lease of this aircraft, which would be operated by the IAF but maintained by the French Air Force, is likely to be succeeded by the lease of five additional A330 MRTTs to augment the reach and combat capability of IAF fighters, official sources told Janes on 29 April.

India’s MoD is in advanced negotiations with France to lease one A330 MRTT (similar to this one in French Air Force service) that will be used by the IAF for training purposes ahead of the planned lease of five more such aircraft. (Airbus)

The French Air Force would also instruct IAF personnel in operating the tankers.

Senior IAF officers said it was only “natural” for the service to opt for the A330 MRTT as tankers of the type operated by the French Air Force and the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence have already provided in-flight refuelling for 18 of the 36 Rafale multirole fighters ordered for the IAF while en route to India from their manufacturing facility in France.

The 18 remaining Rafales, which were ordered in 2016 for EUR7.9 billion (USD9.5 billion), are also likely to be air-refuelled on their way to India in a similar manner, said IAF sources.

The IAF currently operates six Russian-made Ilyushin Il-78 tankers that were acquired in 2003–04 but almost all of them are currently out of service as they face maintenance and serviceability issues, as well as a spares shortage.