Transport Aircraft, Next-Gen Advanced Fighter Jet Trainers, Long-Range Kamikaze Drones & More: Multiple Major Indian Defence Projects Take Shape
India’s defence procurement pipeline is witnessing significant activity across the armed forces, with major programmes involving strategic airlift, advanced fighter pilot training, long-range loitering munitions, night-fighting equipment and indigenous propulsion moving forward.
DEFENCE NEWS
It’s not only the Rafale’s mega procurement that is taking shape. In recent weeks, several other crucial defence procurement and indigenous development programmes have also moved across the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Army.
From a proposed ₹1 lakh crore Multirole Transport Aircraft programme and a requirement for around 150 next-generation advanced fighter jet trainers to long-range ship-launched loitering munitions, nearly 46,600 night sights and additional industrial partners for indigenous turbojet engines, these developments span a wide range of operational requirements.
While most of these programmes are still at the RFI or early procurement stage, they collectively represent a significant pipeline of upcoming defence projects.
₹1 Lakh Crore Multirole Transport Aircraft Programme
The Indian Air Force has issued a tender for 60 Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) under a programme estimated at around ₹1 lakh crore.
The Embraer C-390 Millennium, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, and Airbus A400M Atlas are among the main contenders for the requirement. Under the proposed plan, 12 aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remaining 48 will be manufactured in India with 60% indigenous content.
The programme is intended to significantly strengthen the IAF’s strategic airlift capability, enabling the rapid movement of troops, equipment and other military assets. The aircraft could also potentially support air-to-air refuelling operations, further expanding their operational utility.
The programme is also expected to provide a boost to India’s domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, creating additional opportunities for Indian defence companies and local supply chains.
IAF Seeks 150 Next-Gen Advanced Fighter Jet Trainers
The IAF has issued an RFI for approximately 150 Stage-III (F) jet trainer aircraft, along with associated systems and equipment.
Stage-III trainers represent the final link in the fighter pilot training chain before pilots move to operational fighter squadrons. The aircraft will be used to familiarise trainee pilots with systems and capabilities such as airborne radars, electronic warfare systems and beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles before they graduate to frontline fighters including the Su-30MKI, Rafale and Tejas, and eventually the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The requirement is open to both Indian and global manufacturers. The next stage will be the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP), under which bidders will submit technical and commercial offers against the finalised requirements.
The RFI calls for modern features including fly-by-wire flight controls, a glass cockpit and configurable hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls. The navigation system is also expected to integrate India’s indigenous NavIC satellite navigation system alongside GPS and GLONASS.
The aircraft will further require zero-zero ejection seats and advanced flight-safety characteristics. They are expected to be resistant to departures from controlled flight and capable of automatically recovering to controlled flight if the pilot releases the controls.
The RFP is tentatively scheduled for December 2027, with deliveries to be completed within 60 months of the effective date of the contract. Even if this schedule is maintained, the first aircraft is unlikely to reach an IAF flying training base before the mid-2030s.
The requirement could be significant for HAL’s HLFT-42, which is being developed as an indigenous Lead-in Fighter Trainer for advanced fighter pilot training.
Indian Navy Seeks 1,000-km Ship-Launched Loitering Munitions
The Indian Navy has issued an RFI for indigenous ship-launched medium-range loitering munitions under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The system is intended to engage both maritime and land targets, providing the Navy with a long-range precision-strike capability that can complement conventional cruise missiles.
According to the RFI, the system is expected to have a minimum range of 1,000 km, more than nine hours of endurance, a cruising speed exceeding 75 knots and a terminal dive speed above 200 knots.
Other requirements include a 15,000-foot operating ceiling, low radar cross-section and EO/IR seekers for day and night operations. The system is also expected to feature autonomous navigation capabilities to counter jamming and allow the transfer of control between naval vessels during flight.
Army Seeks Night Sights
The Indian Army is also moving to strengthen the night-fighting capabilities of its frontline troops, with the Ministry of Defence issuing three separate RFIs collectively seeking 46,588 night sights.
The thermal-imaging sights are intended for the SIG 716 and AK-203 assault rifles and the Negev light machine gun, all of which are being inducted into the Army.
The sights are expected to enable accurate engagement of human targets at distances exceeding 500 metres in pitch-dark conditions. They will also need to operate across diverse environments, including the plains and deserts along India’s western borders and high-altitude areas in the Himalayas.
The equipment is required to function across temperatures ranging from -30°C to 45°C and at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet, reflecting the varied operating environments of the Indian Army.
GTRE Expands Industrial Base for Indigenous Expendable Turbojet Engine
Alongside these procurement programmes, India is also expanding the industrial base supporting indigenous defence propulsion.
The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) has issued an RFP to onboard two additional Indian industry partners for its indigenous Expendable Turbojet Engine (ETJE).
The initiative aims to establish additional supply chains for the manufacturing, assembly, testing and delivery of the engines, expanding the industrial base available for serial production.
The compact propulsion system can be used in applications including long-range cruise missiles and loitering munitions, providing an indigenous propulsion option for India’s precision-strike systems.
A Broad Procurement Pipeline
Taken together, these developments show that India’s defence modernisation is progressing across several capability areas simultaneously.
While the Rafale programme remains one of the most closely watched major procurements, several other significant requirements are also moving through the procurement and development pipeline.
From strategic airlift and next-generation fighter pilot training to long-range naval strike capabilities, infantry night-fighting equipment and indigenous missile propulsion, these programmes cover different requirements of India’s armed forces while also creating opportunities for the domestic defence industry.
Most importantly, these programmes are at different stages of development, with some currently at the RFI stage and others moving towards industrial production. Their progress over the coming years will determine how quickly these capabilities become available to the Indian Armed Forces.