MoD issues ₹1 lakh crore tender for 60 IAF aircraft

India's government has asked companies to build 60 new, big cargo planes for the Indian Air Force.

The deal is worth almost ₹1 lakh crore, which is a huge amount of money.

The new planes will replace very old Russian-made planes called the Antonov An-32, which have been in service for many years.

They will help the Air Force move soldiers, equipment, and supplies quickly when needed.

Some of the new planes may even be used to refuel other planes while they are flying in the sky.

Most of the planes will be built in India, so Indian companies will work together with foreign companies like Embraer and Lockheed Martin.

Three Indian companies — HAL, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, and Mahindra — have been invited to take part.

The new planes will fill the gap between smaller cargo planes and very large ones like the Boeing C-17.

Building the planes in India will also make the country's own aerospace industry stronger.