Commercial aerial refuelling provider Metrea will in the coming days deploy its first Boeing KC-135 tanker to India as it gears up to perform an initial mission for the nation’s air force by the end of September.
Currently in the USA, the former French air force asset will “launch from Southern California any day”, says James ‘Slim’ Morgan, president of Metrea Strategic Mobility. A three-day ferry flight is planned, including stops in Hawaii and Guam.
“It will arrive in India within five to six days and we will plan on having our first flight with the Indian air force by the end of this month.”
Metrea in late March secured a three-year contract, which also includes a three-year option, from the Indian defence ministry to provide up to 100 refuelling tanker flight hours per month.
Since then, preparations for the start of the contract have been ongoing, including the training of personnel and refurbishment of facilities to house the operation at Air Force Station Agra in northern India.
“So basically, six months from contract signature, starting up a whole new operation in a country we have never operated in before with different infrastructure and procedures – I think it’s quite amazing what we are going to accomplish,” says Morgan.
Metrea will launch the operation with a single aircraft, but a second is likely to follow in the first half of 2026 as the contract ramps up.
“As we get up to the routine 80-100 hours per month, it will be much easier to do that with two aircraft rather than one,” says Morgan.
The contract will see Metrea initially supporting Indian air force training missions, refuelling the service’s probe-equipped fast-jet fleet, including Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighters, alongside Russian-built RAC MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat types.
However, the contract also provides for the later inclusion of Indian navy aircraft, requiring the use of the KC-135’s refuelling boom.
India presently flies Ilyushin Il-78 tankers for aerial refuelling but is seeking to update its inventory. While that process spools up, the contract with Metrea offers an interim solution.
But with such a large fighter fleet, even the higher total of 100 flight hours per month appears to be a fraction of New Delhi’s potential requirement.
Morgan declines to speculate on India’s future commercial demand, other than to say he sees a “growth opportunity” for its customer.
“They definitely have a need for aerial refuelling and Metrea stands ready to grow the capability here if the need arises.”
Metrea has accumulated an 18-strong fleet of KC-135s having acquired aircraft from France and the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
