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India’s crisis deepens over ‘urgent’ need for mid-air refuellers

22nd March 2024 - 12:10 GMT | by Neelam Mathews in New Delhi

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A French A330 MRTT in flight. Airbus Defence and Space won two bids released between 2006 and 2016 to supply the IAF with the aircraft, but the project was cancelled due to high costs. (Image: Airbus)

The Indian Air Force had said that it required 18 fuellers if the branch wanted to extend the range of its growing fleet.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been exploring options to procure six mid-air refuellers crucial to extending the range of its increasing fleet of fighter aircraft of Rafales, Su-30 MKIs, Jaguars and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft.

Two bids released between 2006 and 2016 were won by Airbus Defence and Space, having presented its A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), but these were pulled back primarily due to high associated costs.

The Indian Ministry of Defence last month gave a fresh Acceptance of Necessity for six mid-air fuellers. Airbus has remained a contender as the commercial A330 production line will remain

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