DefenseIndia approves acquisition of six Boeing 767-based tankers to replace IL-78 fleet
The Indian government has approved the acquisition of six aerial refuelling aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of a new defence procurement package cleared in late December.
Under the program, used Boeing 767 airframes will be converted into multi-role tanker transport aircraft to replace the Indian Air Force’s ageing IL-78 fleet. The conversion work will be carried out by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The approval grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project, formally allowing the acquisition process to move forward. The new tankers are expected to address longstanding capacity and availability issues affecting India’s aerial refuelling capability.
India’s current IL-78 aircraft entered service more than two decades ago and have faced persistent operational and maintenance challenges, limiting their suitability for extended-range and sustained air operations.
The replacement program is part of a broader effort to modernize support and enabler assets within the Indian Air Force, improving its ability to project air power and sustain long-duration missions.
The IL-78 is a tanker aircraft derived from the Ilyushin Il-76 transport, equipped with hose-and-drogue refuelling systems and primarily designed to support fighter and transport aircraft.
While it has served as the backbone of India’s aerial refuelling fleet since the early 2000s, the platform is now considered outdated compared with newer tanker designs based on modern commercial airframes.
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