New Delhi, Aug. 14 – India’s Ministry of Defense has launched a major tender for 60 military transport aircraft valued at one trillion rupees, or about US$10.4 billion, to modernize the Indian Air Force fleet. Embraer and Lockheed Martin are the primary contenders for this substantial military contract in India as the requirements specifically match their platforms. Local partners including Tata, Adani, Mahindra, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited must form joint ventures with foreign manufacturers to bid under strict Make in India guidelines demanding over 60 percent domestic content.
Embraer partners with Mahindra Defense to offer the KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft capable of troop transport, cargo airdrop, and tactical operations with a 26-ton payload. Lockheed Martin teams with Tata Advanced Systems to propose the C-130J Super Hercules, already operated by the Indian Air Force for special missions and featuring a 19-ton capacity. Airbus withdrew the A400M because its 37-ton payload and higher costs exceed the tender’s 18-to-30-ton range.
Twenty percent of the aircraft will arrive flyaway from the manufacturer while the remaining 80 percent must be produced in India through joint ventures involving the selected local firms, foreign partners and HAL. The multi-year selection process includes comprehensive audits, flight tests, and evaluation of operational, commercial, and industrial benefits to strengthen India’s aerospace manufacturing base.
This Embraer Lockheed Martin competition for the 60-aircraft military contract in India underscores the nation’s drive for self-reliance in defence production while renewing its tactical airlift capabilities with proven platforms that enhance strategic mobility and support indigenous industry growth across the entire supply chain.