Government to procure new business jets for defence leadership

The Defence Ministry has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure long-range business jets for senior defence dignitaries and chiefs of the armed forces.

A senior Ministry official said the government plans to replace the existing fleet of business jets with the Indian Air Force (IAF) that has been in service for 20 years. The replacement is planned in a phased manner and is expected to take time.

The decision to get a new fleet comes in the backdrop of the crash of a VSR Ventures-owned aircraft on January 28 that claimed the lives of Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, and four others.

Sources said the RFI sought inputs from Indian and foreign vendors for the jets along with associated equipment for the IAF. The first part of the RFI outlines the broad operational characteristics and key technical parameters the aircraft must meet. The second part specifies the methodology for vendor response submission, including compliance requirements and prescribed formats.

The government will assess options in domestic and global markets before proceeding with the acquisition.

On September 21, 2005, four Embraer Legacy 600 business jets were inducted into the Air Headquarters Communication Squadron of the IAF, with three aircraft delivered initially and the fourth arriving a few months later. The aircraft were named Meghdoot, Vayudoot, Nabhdoot, and Gagandoot, and have since been used for VIP and communication duties.

The existing Embraer fleet requires a take-off distance of 1,800 metres and a landing distance of 1,400 metres, allowing operations from most airfields in India and abroad. The jets are equipped with self-protection suites to guard against missile threats.