The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday issued a tender worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore for acquiring 60 multirole transport aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Antonov An-32 cargo planes and to supplement its logistics network. Multiple Indian companies, including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, and Mahindra, have been given the tender document, defence sources said. Some of these companies have already partnered with a foreign original equipment manufacturer to bid for the MTA programme. The Indian Air Force may also use the MTA planes as tankers for refuelling aircraft in the air and for transporting equipment and troops at a rapid pace. The MTA will bridge the operational gap between smaller light airlifters — such as the C-295 — and heavy-lift platforms like the Boeing C-17 Globemaster.