Australia and India Strengthen Defence Ties with Air-to-Air Refuelling Agreement

Media Release

Australia and India have signed a significant arrangement enabling air-to-air refuelling between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indian Armed Forces. The announcement was made on November 21 during bilateral discussions between Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Honourable Pat Conroy MP, and India’s Minister for Defence Shri Rajnath Singh.

This agreement authorizes the RAAF’s KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft to refuel Indian Armed Forces aircraft, enhancing operational capabilities and cooperation.

Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds, AM, formalized the arrangement on November 19 in New Delhi at the Australia-India Air Staff Talks. Speaking on the agreement, Air Vice-Marshal Reynolds highlighted its strategic significance:

“India is a top-tier security partner for Australia, and through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we are prioritizing practical and tangible cooperation that directly contributes to Indo-Pacific stability. This arrangement elevates our interoperability and enables us to cooperate more effectively across a range of scenarios.”

The arrangement also opens avenues for closer collaboration between personnel, facilitating knowledge exchange and strengthening trust.

Additionally, the RAAF’s KC-30A may support refuelling operations for India’s P-8I Neptune surveillance aircraft, a development that would significantly enhance India’s operational reach and persistence in the Indo-Pacific region.

This agreement represents a milestone in the Australia-India defence relationship and underscores their shared commitment to regional stability and security.