The long-pending Airbus-Tata project to build 56 C-295 transport aircraft, which will replace the old Avro-748 planes of the IAF at a cost of over £2.1 billion, was finally cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security. While 16 of the twin-turboprop C-295MW aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway condition by Airbus Defence and Space (Spain) within two years of the signing of the actual contract, the rest 40 will be manufactured in India by the Tata Consortium within 10 years.
This will be the first time an Indian private sector company will manufacture a military aircraft, though with transfer of technology from a foreign firm, breaking the virtual monopoly of defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in the field.
The C-295 project, which has been pending for almost a decade, is not only meant to replace the Avro aircraft which were first inducted in the early-1960, the new planes will also take on some “tasks” of the ageing AN-32 fleet. A transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity, the C-295MW has a rear ramp door for quick-reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo. All 56 aircraft will be installed with indigenous electronic warfare suites.
“The project will give a boost to the aerospace ecosystem in India wherein several MSMEs spread over the country will be involved in manufacturing parts of the aircraft. The aircraft can even find some buyers in the civil aviation market at a later stage,” said an official. While the C-295s are meant to replace the Avro-748 transport planes, the new aircraft will also be suitable for demanding roles that the AN-32 currently undertakes. The aircraft can operate from short, unprepared airstrips and carry out a variety of missions in all-weather conditions.
“We have made good progress with the light combat aircraft and a variety of helicopters. But transport aircraft is one area where a lot needs to be done. The C-295 project will help create an ecosystem for building transport aircraft in India,” said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.
