.jpg)
India puts Metrea on contract for commercial air refueling, invests in helicopters
The Metrea announcement came hand in hand with a major investment in India’s aviation capabilities, with the defense ministry announcing a $7.3 billion deal to purchase 156 Prachand light combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Metrea refueled German Typhoons during the Pacific Skies exercise in 2024. (Metrea)
WASHINGTON — New Delhi has put private American firm Metrea under contract to provide air refueling for Indian Air Force training operations, as part of a military aviation modernization effort that also includes spending billions on new helicopters.
The agreement, which mirrors one Metrea has to support the US Navy, will see the firm’s aerial tankers and staff provide mid-air refueling during training flights out of Indian Air Force Station Agra, located in central India, with operations to begin within the next six months, according to the Indian Ministry of Defence and the company.
It marks the first international long-term agreement signed by Metrea, which claims to operate the fifth-largest fleet of air refueling planes in the world, with 18 C-135FR and KC-135RG tankers.
“Metrea is honored to be working with the Indian Air Force. Our contract will quickly expand their AAR [air-to-air refueling] training capability and will facilitate extensive training, exercise, and movement opportunities to improve IAF readiness,” James Morgan, the company’s head of strategic mobility, said in a statement on Monday.
Last month, Breaking Defense profiled Metrea’s attempts to break into the international market, including an extended operation in 2024 with the German Luftwaffe.
The Indian Ministry of Defence announcement Friday concerning Metrea also came hand in hand with news of a major investment in India’s rotorcraft capabilities, with the defense ministry announcing a $7.3 billion deal to purchase 156 Prachand light combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Of those, 90 will be sent to the Army and the remainder sent to the Air Force, with deliveries planned over the next five years.
“Capable of operating from high altitude terrain and carrying out precision strike at high altitude targets, Helicopter ‘Prachand’ is a powerful machine,” Rajnath Singh, India’s defense minister, said in a post on X. “The Cabinet’s decision taken today will create more than 8500 jobs.”
According to a government statement, the total value of contracts signed by the MoD since the start of 2024 exceeds $24.4 billion, over 80 percent of which will go to Indian firms.
