Who will carry Zorawar tank? Three aerospace firms to vie for Indian Air Force deal at Aero India

Aero India 2025, which kicks off on February 10 in IT city Bengaluru, promises to be an interesting arena for the tussle between aerospace majors Embraer, Airbus and Lockheed Martin who are all trying to line up eyeing the buy plan for the supply of between 50 to 80 Medium Transport Aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The MTA is expected to be a replacement for the aging workhorse AN-32 and IL-76 transport fleet of the IAF.

While the IAF’s request for information (RFI) issued in 2023 stipulates that the medium transporter should have cargo carrying capacity of 18 to 30 tonnes, it is understood that a core mandate of the MTA would be to transport the indigenous light-weight ‘Zorawar’ tank which is undergoing trials.

Weighing just about 25 tonnes, the ‘Zorawar’ is seen as an effective counter to the Chinese Type 15 light tanks that weigh around 33 tonnes. Zorawar’s weight makes it particularly relevant in the mountainous regions that border China and Pakistan.

Equipped with niche technologies including artificial intelligence, drone integration, active protection system, surveillance and communication capabilities and a high degree of situational awareness, the tank is named after the legendary 19th century Dogra general Zorawar Singh who led blitzkrieg-type attacks in Ladakh and present-day Gilgit-Baltistan.

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Brazilian company Embraer announced on Wednesday that it will highlight “the exceptional versatility and performance of the KC-390 Millennium” at Aero India. The KC-390 Millennium can carry payloads of up to 26 tonnes.

Airbus will offer its A-400M which has a cargo carrying capacity of 37 tonnes while Lockheed Martin will try to sell more C-130Js with their 20 tonne cargo capacity.

All three aerospace majors are in familiar ground in India. While Embraer operates eight jets for VIP travel and for mounting aerial early warning systems, Lockheed Martin’s dozen C-130Js are used extensively by the IAF, while Airbus is supplying 56 C-295 aircraft to the IAF.

Besides the cargo carrying capacity, the RFI also sought information on the capability of the aircraft to perform a variety of roles including casualty evacuation, combat free fall, being able to operate from semi-prepared airfields and to carry out assault landing.

In the backdrop of the ongoing ‘atmanirbharta’ effort, the RFI also sought specifications as to what extent the procurement of MTA would lend itself to the indigenization effort that could make India, a regional, global hub for manufacturing and to maintain, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the equipment.