IAF An-32 upgrade stalled by Russia-Ukraine war, fleet future at risk
Synopsis
India's $400 million deal to upgrade 100 IAF An-32s has been derailed — twice — by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Ukrainian spare parts now cut off. With MTA replacements still a decade away and the monsoon flood-relief season beginning, the IAF is left operating an ageing Soviet-era fleet on borrowed time.
Key Takeaways
The IAF's $400 million deal with Ukraine to upgrade 100 An-32 transport aircraft has been disrupted by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war , now in its fifth year .
Supply of spares from Ukraine required for the upgrade has been cut off due to active hostilities.
Upgrades — covering airframes, Ivchenko AI-20 engines, and advanced avionics — are being carried out at the Base Repair Depot in Kanpur .
The An-32 fleet has logged only 10 accidents since India began receiving the aircraft in 1984 .
Replacement Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) are at least 10 years away from induction, making the upgrade critical for fleet continuity.
The fleet faces high demand for flood relief operations with the monsoon season now underway.
The Indian Air Force (IAF)'s $400 million programme to upgrade its fleet of around 100 An-32 transport aircraft has been severely disrupted by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the supply of critical spares from Ukraine cut off due to active hostilities now in their fifth year. The setback raises fresh concerns about the long-term operational readiness of one of the IAF's most relied-upon workhorses.
What the Upgrade Programme Covers
India signed a $400 million deal with Ukraine to overhaul approximately 100 An-32s, encompassing airframe refurbishments, engine overhauls of the Ivchenko AI-20 powerplant, and the integration of advanced avionics, navigation, and communication systems developed by Ukraine. The upgrades are being carried out at the IAF's Base Repair Depot in Kanpur.
According to a senior official, the programme is designed to extend the fleet's service life until the IAF receives modern Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA). “The upgrades are intended to make the fleet last till the IAF receives modern MTAs, the Request For Proposal (RFP) for which is at its final stage. It will take at least 10 years for the first MTAs to be inducted into the IAF, after which the An-32s can be phased out gradually,” the official said.
How the Conflict Has Disrupted the Timeline
This is not the first time geopolitics has derailed the upgrade. The programme was initially disrupted in 2015 when an earlier phase of the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. It was revived after that round of hostilities subsided, only to be hit again by the full-scale war that began subsequently — now entering its fifth year.
A senior official was careful to separate the upgrade delays from a recent crash. “This may have nothing to do with Saturday's crash at Jorhat. The Court of Inquiry will ascertain why that accident occurred. However, the war between Russia and Ukraine has certainly impacted the upgrade programme of this workhorse of the IAF,” the official said.
The An-32's Record and Strategic Role
The An-32 is a customised, upgraded variant of the Soviet-era An-26, which India began receiving in 1984. Over 42 years of service, the fleet has recorded only 10 accidents — a notable safety record given the demanding conditions under which it operates, including high-altitude sorties and landings on semi-prepared runways at Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in remote parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
An IAF pilot described the aircraft's operational environment: “Most ALGs have now been upgraded, and that has taken some strain off, but the weather in the northeastern States remains an issue. It can pack up within minutes. These aircraft have been flying through that. Like all Soviet-era aircraft, the An-32s can pose a challenge to pilots unless they have mastered the skills. These aircraft are among the best for the role they perform.”
Monsoon Demand and the Road Ahead
With the monsoon season now underway, the An-32 fleet faces heightened operational demand for flood relief missions across the country, adding further pressure to an already strained upgrade schedule. Officials have expressed hope for a swift resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict to allow the programme to proceed unhindered.
The situation underscores a broader strategic vulnerability: India's dependence on a single foreign supplier for a critical mid-life upgrade of a key tactical airlift asset, with no near-term domestic or alternative-source replacement in sight.
Point of View
With no fallback supplier identified — and is now paying the price twice over, having been disrupted by the same geopolitical fault line in 2015 and again now. With MTAs still a decade away, the IAF is effectively flying on hope. The broader lesson — that defence modernisation timelines cannot be hostage to a single foreign partner's security situation — has been visible for years, yet the diversification imperative has not translated into procurement architecture.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the IAF An-32 upgrade been stalled?
The upgrade has been disrupted because the supply of spare parts from Ukraine — a key partner in the $400 million overhaul deal — has been cut off due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fifth year. This is the second time the programme has been derailed by the same conflict.
What does the An-32 upgrade programme involve?
The programme covers overhauls of airframes and Ivchenko AI-20 engines, along with the fitment of advanced avionics, navigation, and communication systems developed by Ukraine. Work is being carried out at the IAF's Base Repair Depot in Kanpur, covering approximately 100 aircraft.
Is the An-32 upgrade connected to the recent Jorhat crash?
According to a senior official, the upgrade delays are not necessarily linked to the crash at Jorhat. A Court of Inquiry has been convened to determine the cause of that specific accident separately.
When will the IAF replace the An-32 fleet?
Replacement Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) are expected to take at least 10 years from induction before the An-32s can be phased out. The RFP for the MTA is currently at its final stage, making the upgrade essential for bridging the service gap.
What role do An-32s play in India's defence operations?
The An-32 fleet is critical for supplying air-maintained posts in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh, operating from Advanced Landing Grounds in harsh terrain. The aircraft are also heavily used for flood relief operations during the monsoon season.
