India clears $1 billion plan to acquire six Boeing 767 tankers after 20 years of delays.

On January 26, 2026, India advanced plans to acquire six converted Boeing 767 aerial refuelling aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The program, valued at about $1 billion, is based on converting second-hand commercial airframes with support from Israel Aerospace Industries.

As reported by DefenseNews on January 26, 2026, India cleared a long-pending requirement to acquire six converted Boeing 767 aerial refuelling aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The program, valued at about $1 billion, is based on converting second-hand commercial airframes with support from Israel Aerospace Industries to replace aging Russian-made Il-78 tankers. Final approval is expected following ongoing cost negotiations, with the first delivery targeted for 2030 to finally address sustained refuelling shortfalls that have affected air operations for nearly two decades.
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The B767 Multi-Mission Tanker Transport (B767 MMTT) under consideration is already in service with Colombia, which received its converted Boeing Multi-Mission Transport Tanker Jupiter 767 in 2010. (Picture source: US Air Force)

India seems to have finally advanced a long-stalled effort to reinforce its air-to-air refuelling capacity by moving forward with the planned acquisition of six converted Boeing 767 tanker aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The decision follows formal clearance of the requirement and places the program at its most advanced stage after nearly twenty years of repeated attempts. The approach centers on acquiring six second-hand Boeing 767 commercial airframes and converting them into Multi-Mission Tanker Transport aircraft, with the help of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), to fill a persistent operational gap. The overall value of the program is expected to reach about $1 billion, and a dedicated cost negotiation committee was established on January 1 to finalize pricing.

Once negotiations are concluded, the proposal is to be submitted for final approval before contract signature. Government clearance is being sought on a timeline that could extend to March. Delivery of the first aircraft is targeted for 2030, marking the start of fleet renewal. The B767 Multi-Mission Tanker Transport (B767 MMTT) under consideration is already in service with Colombia, which received its converted Boeing Multi-Mission Transport Tanker Jupiter 767 in 2010. In tanker configuration, the IAI MMTT can be equipped with both a flying boom system and hose-and-drogue units, allowing it to refuel a wide range of aircraft, including fighters, transport aircraft, and airborne early warning aircraft. This dual-system capability directly addresses compatibility limitations encountered with older tanker types that rely on a single refuelling method.

Beyond refuelling, the aircraft can be configured for cargo transport, passenger movement, and other support missions, enabling flexible use across peacetime and operational tasking. The conversion integrates modern refuelling controls and mission systems into an existing widebody airframe rather than relying on a newly built tanker design. For India, this design offers a balance between refuelling capacity, interoperability, and reuse of a mature airframe with established global support infrastructure. The selected approach relies on conversion rather than procurement of newly built large tankers, reflecting an assessment that modifying existing airframes offers a more economical path to restoring refuelling capacity. Instead of acquiring a new tanker such as the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, the Indian Air Force aligned on a solution based on availability and cost control.

Israel Aerospace Industries is designated to carry out the conversion work, including the integration of refuelling systems. Refuelling modules are planned to be manufactured in India as part of the industrial arrangement. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is set to receive a share of the work linked to offset requirements. The structure connects the acquisition to domestic aerospace activity while delivering six additional tankers. The quantity mirrors the size of the existing fleet, effectively doubling nominal tanker numbers if all aircraft enter service. This decision represents the fifth attempt by the Indian Air Force to procure additional aerial tankers and follows a sequence of earlier efforts that did not result in deliveries. The first request for proposals was issued in 2006, during which the Airbus A330 MRTT was shortlisted before the process was cancelled in 2010.

Similar selection and cancellation cycles followed when tenders were floated again in 2010 and later in 2018. Each attempt ended without contract execution, despite repeated identification of the same operational requirement. Over this period, the force continued to operate with no increase in tanker numbers. The current conversion plan is therefore framed as a means to conclude a process that has extended for almost two decades. Its advancement indicates a shift toward a solution that can proceed without reopening a broad competition. Operational pressure behind the program is closely linked to the condition of India’s existing tanker fleet, which consists of six Ilyushin Il-78MKI aircraft acquired from Uzbekistan in 2003 and 2004. These aircraft have faced persistent sustainment and availability challenges over time.

A decade ago, serviceability of the Il-78MKI fleet was reported at 49%, largely due to spare parts shortages. With only six aircraft in service, any reduction in availability has a direct impact on refuelling capacity. The fleet’s age and support constraints have limited its ability to meet current operational demands. These factors have driven the need for replacement rather than incremental remediation. The conversion of six Boeing 767 aircraft is intended to replace the aging capability on a one-for-one basis. As an interim measure, the Indian Air Force has relied on leasing to partially address refuelling shortfalls. Last year, a single Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker was leased from Metrea to support training and limited operational needs. The aircraft is flown by American crews, which restricts its availability during conflict scenarios. This limitation prevents leased tankers from serving as a substitute for an organic capability under national control.

While the lease provided temporary relief, it underscored the urgency of acquiring owned and operated tankers. The reliance on a single leased aircraft also highlighted the scale of the gap relative to operational requirements. The planned acquisition of six converted tankers is intended to end dependence on such stopgap solutions. Aerial refuelling remains a key enabler for extending the reach and endurance of Indian fighter aircraft. Tankers support overseas deployments and allow fighters to remain on station longer over national territory. This capability is particularly relevant given the geographic span of India’s operational environment, which includes long distances between bases and areas of interest.

Increased refuelling capacity also provides greater flexibility in mission planning and force allocation. The addition of six tankers would expand the ability to sustain air operations without immediate reliance on forward basing. Although the tankers themselves are support aircraft, their availability affects a wide range of missions performed by the Indian Air Force. The tanker acquisition also intersects with broader force structure pressures within the Indian Air Force, notably a shortfall in fighter squadrons. The service currently operates 29 squadrons against an authorized strength of 42.5 squadrons. This gap increases reliance on maximizing the endurance and utilization of existing aircraft.

Expanded refuelling capacity can partially mitigate squadron shortages by enabling longer sorties and sustained coverage with fewer units. While tankers do not address fighter induction directly, they influence how available fighters can be employed. The refuelling program, therefore, carries implications beyond supporting aviation alone. Under the current plan, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will lead conversion activities, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) participates through offset-related work to finally conclude a procurement effort that has defined India’s tanker planning for nearly twenty years.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.