SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is extending the operational life of its Antonov An-32 tactical transport aircraft, a Soviet-origin workhorse, through a comprehensive overhaul program involving local airframe refurbishment and component upgrades. According to sources cited by idrw.org, at least 60 of the newer An-32 units will undergo extensive life-extension maintenance to keep them flying beyond their original 25-year service life, potentially until 2040.
By partnering with private sector companies in India, the IAF aims to leverage domestic expertise to modernize the fleet, ensuring continued reliability for critical missions in the northern and northeastern sectors. This initiative, announced in June 2025, aligns with India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ push for self-reliance in defense maintenance and underscores the An-32’s indispensable role in tactical airlift, disaster management, and high-altitude operations.
The An-32, a twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Ukraine’s Antonov Design Bureau (then part of the Soviet Union), began entering IAF service in 1984. India procured 125 An-32s between 1984 and 1991 under a deal with the Soviet Union, with over 100 still operational despite the fleet’s age. Known for its rugged design and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities, the An-32 can carry up to 6.7 tons of cargo or 50 paratroopers and operate from high-altitude airfields like Leh and Thoise in Ladakh, at elevations exceeding 10,000 feet. Its twin Ivchenko-Progress AI-20D engines enable reliable performance in hot-and-high conditions, making it a lifeline for air maintenance in remote regions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
The An-32 fleet, operated by squadrons like No. 25 (“Himalayan Eagles”) and No. 49 (“Paraspears”), supports a wide range of missions, including tactical airlift, communication, para-troop training, casualty evacuation, and disaster relief. The aircraft played a pivotal role in humanitarian operations, such as the 2013 Uttarakhand flood relief and the 2015 Nepal earthquake response, earning the nickname “Sutlej” in IAF service. However, the fleet’s aging airframes and Soviet-era avionics have posed maintenance challenges, with a 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report noting serviceability rates as low as 40% due to spare parts shortages exacerbated by Russia-Ukraine tensions.
To address these challenges and extend the An-32’s service life, the IAF has launched a comprehensive overhaul program led by its Base Repair Depots (BRDs), particularly the No. 1 BRD at Kanpur, in collaboration with private sector companies. The program focuses on airframe refurbishment, engine overhauls, and upgrades to critical components like avionics, navigation systems, and landing gear. Sources told idrw.org that at least 60 of the newer An-32 units, delivered in the late 1980s and early 1990s, are targeted for life-extension maintenance to operate beyond their original 25-year design life (ending around 2010-2016) and into 2040.
The overhaul process includes:
- Airframe Refurbishment: Structural inspections and repairs to address fatigue, corrosion, and wear, extending the airframe’s calendar life to 40-50 years. This involves replacing or reinforcing critical sections like wings, fuselage, and tail assemblies.
- Engine Upgrades: Overhauling the AI-20D engines to improve reliability and fuel efficiency, with potential integration of modernized components from Ukrainian or Indian manufacturers.
- Avionics Modernization: Upgrading cockpit systems with digital displays, improved navigation aids (e.g., GPS/INS), and enhanced communication systems to meet contemporary air traffic management standards.
- Component Replacement: Sourcing or indigenously manufacturing critical spares, such as landing gear and hydraulic systems, to reduce dependence on Ukrainian suppliers disrupted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The IAF’s earlier An-32 Re-Engining (RE) program, initiated in 2009 with Ukraine’s Antonov and Motor Sich, upgraded 40 aircraft with modernized AI-20D Series 5 engines, new avionics, and noise-reducing propellers. The current overhaul builds on this effort, targeting the remaining fleet to achieve a serviceability rate above 70%, as mandated by the IAF’s 2023 modernization roadmap.
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