C-295 military aircraft manufacturing complex has been inaugurated in Vadodara, Gujarat, by Tata Advance Systems Ltd (TASL) & Airbus Spain, in the presence of the Prime Ministers of both India and Spain. The event is seen as another significant step in bolstering India’s journey towards self-reliance in defense production.
The Program is a collaborative initiative between India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus Spain, that aims to produce 56 Units of C-295 military aircrafts and replace the aging Avro-748 Aircraft currently being operated by Indian Air Force.
Out of the 56, Spain will deliver 16 Units of C-295 military aircrafts directly from Spanish factories in fully fly-away condition and remaining 40 shall be built by TASL in Indian State of Gujarat. This Vadodara complex will handle the entire lifecycle of the aircraft, including manufacturing, assembly, testing, qualification, delivery, and maintenance.
All the 56 C-295 Military Aircrafts shall be fitted with indigenous EW Suit (Electronic Warfare Suit) which will be manufactured by Indian Defense Manufacturing Organizations like Bharat Electronics Limited & Bharat Dynamics Limited, boosting the indigenous content.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran paid tribute to former Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata, who was pivotal in the inception of the Airbus-Tata partnership back in 2012. Chandrasekaran underlined Ratan Tata’s foresight and massive contributions to propelling this ambitious C-295 Program & acknowledged his enduring legacy.
Top 10 Facts of a C-295 Military Aircraft (A Multi-role Reliable Workhorse):
The C-295 Stands for C-Casa, 2-Engine, 95-9.5 T Payload Capacity, designed & built by Airbus Spain Defense. It is a combat proven military aircraft currently being used by armed forces of 36 nations. Here are top 10 Facts of C-295 Aircrafts.
- Overall Length= 24.5 Meters
- Overall Height= 8.66 Meters
- Tax Take-off Weight= 23.2 Ton
- Maximum Payload= 9 Tons
- Maximum Cruise Speed= 480 Km/Hr
- Engines=02 P&W PW127G
- Armed ISR (Guided Rockets, Machine Guns, Missiles in the Weaponised Variant) & Capable to fitted with AEW & C (AESA Technology to 360 Degree Coverage) & Electronic Warfare
- Air to Air Re-fueling Capability
- Range= 1555 KM
- Honeywell RDR-1400C Radar
C-295 Military Aircraft can transport 71 Soldiers or 49 Paratroopers with a jump master.
Details of TASL & Airbus Spain Collaboration:
- In September 2021, India’s Ministry of Defense signed a ₹21,935 crore contract with Airbus Defense and Space SA to supply 56 C-295 transport aircraft.
- Under the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft fully assembled from Spain. The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled in India at the new TASL facility in Vadodara, Gujarat
- The Vadodara facility will handle the entire lifecycle of the aircraft, including manufacturing, assembly, testing, qualification, delivery, and maintenance.
- Nearly 13,000 of the 14,000 parts required for each aircraft will be produced in India. This will increase the local content of each aircraft from 48% initially to 75% by the final aircraft
- The C-295 aircraft are designed for tactical operations, including troop transport, paratrooper drops, and cargo deployment.
- For balance 40 Aircrafts, Airbus will be responsible for sourcing the aero-engines and avionics from other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and TASL Will assemble & manufacture these 40 aircraft into final shape. Necessary technology shall be transferred by Airbus to TASAL to enable TASL for successful assembly & manufacture of the aircrafts.
- TASL will provide Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) support for all 56 aircraft.
- Total Value of the project is tentatively 3 billion USD (i.e. INR 21935 Crores)
This initiative is a vital step towards bolstering the IAF’s operational capabilities and underscores India’s commitment to the “Make in India” initiative.