IAF Chief evaluates Airbus A400M in France as India advances MTA programme
New Delhi, June 7. Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh received a firsthand operational assessment of the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft during his official visit to France from June 2 to 4, highlighting India’s ongoing efforts to modernise its airlift fleet and strengthen strategic mobility capabilities.
As part of the visit, the Air Chief flew aboard a French Air and Space Force-operated A400M from Orléans Air Base, gaining direct exposure to a platform widely regarded as a leading contender for the IAF’s forthcoming Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.
The familiarisation flight comes as the IAF moves closer to launching one of its largest transport aircraft acquisition projects in recent years. The service is expected to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) later this year for a new generation of transport aircraft intended to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-origin An-32s. Current projections indicate a requirement for 40 to 80 aircraft, a procurement that could significantly shape India’s tactical and strategic airlift capabilities for decades.
The Airbus A400M is considered a strong candidate for the programme due to its ability to bridge the gap between tactical and strategic transport operations. The aircraft can carry heavy payloads over long distances while retaining the flexibility to operate from short and semi-prepared runways. Already in service with several European air forces, the A400M has been employed extensively in military operations, humanitarian assistance missions and special operations deployments.
The competition for the MTA programme is expected to be intense. Besides the A400M, other prominent contenders include the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and the Embraer KC-390 Millennium. Defence analysts believe the final selection will depend on a combination of operational performance, payload requirements, lifecycle costs, industrial partnerships and commitments towards manufacturing and technology transfer in India.
Beyond the aircraft evaluation, Air Chief Marshal Singh held discussions with senior French military officials and executives from major defence companies, including Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran and MBDA.
The talks focused on expanding defence cooperation, aerospace technologies and ongoing collaborative programmes between India and France. The engagements come as New Delhi and Paris continue to deepen their strategic partnership across key sectors, including combat aviation, aero-engine development, missile technologies and space cooperation.
France remains one of India’s closest defence partners, with ties anchored by major acquisitions such as the Dassault Rafale fighter jet programme and broader collaboration in advanced aerospace technologies.
The Air Chief’s visit is also being viewed within the wider context of India’s military modernisation drive and efforts to replace ageing platforms while boosting domestic defence manufacturing under the government’s self-reliance initiative.
With the MTA competition expected to formally commence later this year, the A400M familiarisation flight offers the IAF leadership an opportunity to closely evaluate one of the frontrunners before the procurement process enters a critical phase.
