Overview
- The Defence Ministry has requested information from Indian and foreign vendors on long‑range business jets, associated equipment and detailed compliance formats.
- The aircraft will transport senior ministers and service chiefs, a requirement that is separate from the Boeing 777 VVIP fleet used by the President and Prime Minister.
- The IAF’s current four Embraer Legacy 600 jets, inducted in 2005, remain operational with self‑protection suites and short‑runway capability.
- Officials say the replacement will be phased with no purchase decision at this stage, and subsequent steps could include evaluations, trials, cost analysis and approvals.
- The initiative follows increased scrutiny of VIP air safety after the January 28 crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, although that incident did not involve the IAF fleet.