U.S.-based Metrea Management is in advanced negotiations with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to lease a second Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker by early 2026, following the delivery of the first aircraft expected by year-end. This initiative aims to address the IAF’s pressing need for aerial refueling, currently hampered by a limited fleet of Russian-origin Ilyushin Il-78MKI tankers. The leased tankers will enhance operational readiness, providing critical refueling support for IAF aircraft during long-range exercises, particularly amid the ongoing tensions along the Line of Actual Control and the Line of Control. This strategic move underlines the IAF’s commitment to bridging capability gaps and advancing towards indigenous solutions, reinforcing India’s aerial power dynamics in the region.