Defense Ministry Seals Deal for Wet Lease of KC-135 Mid-Air Refueling Aircraft – International Edition

New Delhi [India], March 28 (ANI): On Friday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) entered into a contract with
Metrea Management
for the
Lease of One Flight Refueling Aircraft
For offering aerial refueling training to IAF and Indian Navy pilots, Metrea will supply FRAs (KC-135 aircraft) within half a year. This will mark the first time the IAF has engaged in a wet lease with an FRA, as stated in an official release from the Ministry of Defence.

On March 28, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) inked two agreements with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for providing 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), named Prachand, alongside related services such as training and additional items valued at Rs. 62,700 crore, tax excluded. The initial pact covers the delivery of 66 LCH units to the Indian Air Force (IAF). In addition, the secondary agreement pertains to furnishing 90 LCHs to the Indian Army, according to the statement released.

These helicopters will begin delivery starting in the third year and continue for the subsequent five years. These agreements will boost the fighting capabilities of the Armed Forces in mountainous regions.

The LCH is India’s premier domestically engineered and fabricated attack helicopter, capable of functioning above altitudes of 5,000 meters. It boasts numerous parts that have been both conceptualized and produced within the country, with plans to attain more than 65% local material incorporation throughout the project lifecycle. The initiative will engage upwards of 250 homegrown enterprises, primarily small-to-medium-sized businesses, leading to approximately 8,500 job opportunities—both immediate and ancillary.

According to the announcement, following the signing of these three agreements, the Ministry of Defence has now finalized a total of 193 contracts for the fiscal year 2024-25. The cumulative worth of these deals surpasses Rs 2,09,050 crore, marking the highest amount recorded so far—almost twice as much as the previously documented peak. Of this sum, 177 contracts were awarded to local industries, representing 92% of all agreements, with their combined value standing at Rs 1,68,922 crore, accounting for 81%. (ANI)