PM Modi’s Israel visit may finally end IAF’s 20-year tanker drought, says report

PM Modi will become the first Indian leader to address the Israeli parliament.

With Narendra Modi visiting Israel, New Delhi and Tel Aviv are set to finalise a defence agreement for six mid-air refuelling aircraft for the Indian Air Force, according to a report by NDTV.

Sources told NDTV that the proposed agreement will see an Israeli government-owned corporation partner with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to convert six pre-owned Boeing 767 passenger aircraft into mid-air refuelling tankers for the Indian Air Force.

The deal, which is valued at around Rs 8,000 crore, is significant as the Air Force has long flagged the need for additional tanker jets and has had to depend on leased aircraft to bridge operational gaps. “Negotiations are ongoing, and the agreement is expected to be finalised sometime in 2026,” sources said

If finalised, the deal would mark a significant boost for the Indian Air Force, which currently relies on just six ageing Russian-made Ilyushin IL-78 tanker aircraft and has been unable to acquire additional mid-air refuellers for nearly two decades.

PM Modi on Wednesday arrived reached Israel on a two-day visit during. He will hold meetings with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

PM Modi was received by PM Netanyahu and his wife Sara at the airport. The two leaders hugged each other and exchanged pleasantries. The PM was given a ceremonial red carpet welcome.

PM Modi will become the first Indian leader to address the Israeli parliament. This is Modi's second visit to Israel after 2017.

In his departure statement, PM Modi said India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed “remarkable growth and dynamism,” adding that he looks forward to meeting his Israeli counterpart, Netanyahu.

The Prime Minister said he was visiting Israel at the invitation of his “dear friend Prime Minister Netanyahu” and expressed hope that their discussions would further strengthen cooperation across a wide range of sectors — including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, defence and security, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties.