India's Strategic Reach Hinges On Midair Refuelers

Geopolitics analyses the new contest in the midair refueler programme which has been pending for more than 10 years amidst flip-flops.

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The midair refueler programme of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is the newest interest of transport plane manufacturers in the Indian military market. The reason is a likely $2-billion business to be won if they get to supply a minimum of six midair refueler plane to the IAF. Those global transport aircraft manufacturers interested in this programme: Airbus, Ilyushin and Boeing.

This new contest has come about after India cancelled an almost-done deal with Airbus. The Spanish unit of Airbus was spearheading this campaign in India for the European major. In fact, Airbus was twice the chosen one for bagging this contract from India. But for reasons unknown till date, the contract negotiations got stuck and ultimately, called off, resulting in what's the proverbial slip between the lip and the cup, that too twice.

IAF is keen on getting the midair refueler aircraft into its fleet to enable it to extend the strategic reach for its military combat, transport and unmanned planes that can do an aerial rendezvous with the midair refueler and get refueled without having to return to base. Tankers are valuable force multipliers for air forces that operate combat aircraft for long distances.

Midair refueling almost doubles the range and endurance of fighters. Refuelling them mid-mission saves a trip back to base, and a landing and take-off. This will enable these aircraft to be airborne for longer hours and reach longer distance to deliver both intelligence and surveillance input back to the military commanders and weapons on enemy positions and strategic assets.

Airbus India leadership has been left flabbergasted by the sudden cancellation of the contract negotiation process that had been stuck for over two years. They are also in the dark on the reasons, as the communication that was sent by the Ministry of Defence was just two lines and gave no reasons.