SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken a significant step toward enhancing its aerial refueling capabilities by leasing one Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, a move aimed at addressing immediate operational gaps. Amid this development, reports are emerging that the IAF is poised to further expand its tanker fleet by wet leasing one Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from France under a government-to-government (G2G) deal.
On March 28, 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Metrea Aerospace, a US-based private firm specializing in air-to-air refueling services, to wet lease a KC-135 Stratotanker. Under this agreement, Metrea will deliver the aircraft within six months, complete with crew, maintenance, and insurance—a turnkey solution tailored for immediate deployment. The KC-135, a four-engine tanker with a storied history in the US Air Force, offers a fuel capacity of over 90 tons and dual refueling systems: a flying boom for rapid transfers and a drogue for probe-equipped aircraft. This versatility ensures compatibility with the IAF’s diverse fleet, including Su-30 MKIs, Rafales, and Jaguars, as well as the Indian Navy’s MiG-29Ks.
The wet lease of the KC-135 is primarily aimed at enhancing training for IAF and Navy pilots, addressing a critical shortfall in air-to-air refueling proficiency. The IAF’s existing fleet of six Russian-made Ilyushin Il-78 tankers, inducted in 2003-2004, has long been plagued by maintenance woes, with serviceability often dipping below 50%—far short of the desired 70% benchmark. By integrating the KC-135, the IAF gains a reliable platform to extend the range and endurance of its fighter jets, a vital force multiplier in modern warfare, while buying time to evaluate long-term solutions.
Hot on the heels of the KC-135 deal, reports indicate that the IAF is close to finalizing a wet lease for one Airbus A330 MRTT from the French Air and Space Force under a G2G arrangement. Expected to be concluded in the 2025-2026 financial year, this three-year lease will see the aircraft operated by French crew and maintained by French support, offering the IAF a low-risk entry into a platform it has long coveted. The A330 MRTT, a twin-engine tanker derived from the A330-200 airliner, boasts a 111-ton fuel capacity, a 14,800-kilometer ferry range, and the ability to refuel multiple aircraft simultaneously via under-wing pods and a boom system—capabilities that outstrip the aging Il-78s.
The MRTT has been the IAF’s preferred choice in two prior procurement attempts, in 2009 and 2013, where it bested the Il-78 due to lower lifecycle costs and dual-role versatility as both a tanker and transport aircraft. However, both bids were scrapped by the MoD’s finance wing over high upfront costs, estimated at $1.5-2 billion for six units. The wet lease sidesteps this hurdle, providing a cost-effective interim solution while allowing the IAF to train personnel and assess the MRTT’s performance in Indian conditions. The deal builds on operational familiarity, as French MRTTs have refueled IAF Rafales during delivery flights from France and joint exercises like Tarang Shakti-2024.
The IAF’s push for leased tankers comes amid mounting pressure to maintain operational flexibility, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Aerial refueling extends mission durations and ranges, enabling fighters to carry heavier weapon loads by reducing fuel weight at takeoff—a tactical advantage in contested airspace. The Il-78 fleet’s unreliability has constrained such operations, making the KC-135 and forthcoming A330 MRTT leases vital stopgaps.
The leasing option, enabled by the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, reflects a pragmatic shift in IAF strategy. Wet leasing offers rapid deployment without the financial burden of outright purchases, preserving resources for other modernization priorities like the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA programs. The KC-135 provides immediate training benefits, while the A330 MRTT offers a glimpse into a platform the IAF may eventually procure permanently—six MRTTs remain a long-term goal outlined in a 2018 Request for Information.
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