India has begun digitizing its Russian Il-78 aircraft to simplify further modernization and maintenance of its aging fleet of tanker aircraft. The work was commissioned by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which issued a tender for a complete 3D scan of the aircraft and the creation of its CAD model.

The technical specifications call for scanning the entire external surface of the Il-78, along with structural elements and control surfaces. The data obtained will be used to create an accurate three-dimensional model of the aircraft.

For the Indian Air Force, this is particularly important due to the age of the fleet. The country has six Il-78MKIs, which entered service in 2003–2004. The aircraft are built on the basis of the Soviet Il-78 and are used for aerial refueling of combat aircraft.

Creating a digital model will provide accurate aircraft geometry in electronic form. The dataset can be used in designing new parts, checking equipment compatibility, preparing for repair work, and developing future structural changes. This is especially useful for aging equipment when the original design documentation no longer fully corresponds to the actual condition of a particular aircraft.

However, this is not yet about direct modernization of the Il-78 or replacement of its equipment. HAL first wants to obtain the most accurate digital copy of the aircraft, which can become the technical basis for subsequent work.