sancho
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That would be waaay beyond our means or capabilities. Even the USA can only afford to keep a division sized airborne unit, the 101rst air assault division.
You can't compare us with the US, because they are in a way different situation than we are. They need air transportability mainly in strategic regard, to transport their arms all over the world, we don't! They have no enemies at their borders, we have!
We need to be able to transport reenforcement by in a short time, from the south of India to the north for example and that includes heavy vehicles like tanks, IFVs or SPH. The fastest way to do this is air transport and wasn't that one of the prime reasons to go for the C17? Because it can lift even around 30t (if I remember correctly) to high altitude areas, at short airstrips?
As for the tanks, I am not sure if the topology of they North East is suited for tank warfare. The reason we are raising a MOUNTAIN STRIKE CORPS whose composition would be very different from an ordinary corps is because of that - they would be trained to fight mainly as small infantry units with a lot of artillery and helicopter mobility, but much fewer tanks, APCs or other ground vehicles. So other than these 350 odd T-90s, I don't think they have plans for a lighter tank. If they did, then they would not have ordered these T-90s at all. The hilly terrain of the north east is just not suited for tank warfare.
Check this:
http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/RFI/119/RFI for Light Tank.pdf
It has been some time since then, but the questions they asked for clearly shows that they want something lighter and smaller than T90s. Btw the order for T90s has nothing to do with mountain warfare like you said as well, but is an expected follow order of the licence production and might have more to do with the delays and limitations of Arjun in these areas.