The construction of the C-295 transport plane for the IAF by a Tata-Airbus consortium is seen as a major boost for the national aerospace sector
By Vikas Gupta
New Delhi, October 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a factory in Vadodara on Sunday that will manufacture the C-295 transport plane. This The contract is expected to support the development of India’s aerospace ecosystem, bringing investment and 15,000 skilled direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs over the next decade, according to Airbus officials.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on Thursday that it had, for the first time, entrusted a private company – Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) – with the manufacture of a complete aircraft for the army.
On September 24, 2021, the MoD had signed a contract worth around 21,935 crore with Airbus for 56 C-295 aircraft. Since they were to replace the old Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet of Avro HS-748 aircraft, this deal earned the nickname “Avro Replacement Program”.
The “Avro Replacement Program” will require TASL to develop a complete industrial ecosystem: from manufacturing, assembly, testing and qualification, to delivery and maintenance throughout the life cycle of the device. ‘plane.
The IAF will be the 35th operator of the C-295 worldwide. Airbus has already ordered 278 of these aircraft, of which more than 200 are already in operation.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar said that under the terms of the contract, Airbus would build the first 16 planes on its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, and the would deliver to the IAF in ‘flight-away condition’.
The following 40 aircraft are to be manufactured in India by Indian Aircraft Contractor – a Tata consortium consisting of TASL and Tata Consultancy Services, led by TASL.
The first 16 take-off aircraft are expected to be received by the IAF between September 2023 and August 2025. The first aircraft manufactured in India is expected from September 2026.
In March, the Ministry of Defense signed an offset contract with Airbus Defense and Space whereby Airbus will fulfill its offset obligations through the direct purchase of eligible products and services from Indian Offset Partners, said the Ministry of Defense in a press release.
The Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that 96% of the total working hours per aircraft that Airbus employs at its manufacturing plant in Spain would be carried out in India by the Tata consortium. This will involve the manufacture in India of over 13,400 detailed parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and the seven major component assemblies, along with tools, jigs and testers.
Systems such as engines, landing gear and avionics will be supplied by Airbus Defense and Space and integrated on the aircraft by the Tata consortium. The aircraft will be tested as an integrated system by the consortium.
The Defense Secretary said on Thursday he was very confident in the ability of the Tata Airbus consortium to build even larger transport planes in the future.
After the completion of the delivery of 56 aircraft to the IAF, Airbus Defense and Space will be allowed to sell the Indian-made aircraft to civilian operators and export them to countries authorized by the Indian government.
IAF Deputy Chief Air Marshal Sandeep Singh said the C-295 outperforms the two medium-lift aircraft the IAF currently operates: the Avro and the Antonov-32 . A decision on replacing the aging AN-32 would be made after five years, he said.
The C-295 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW-127 turboprops and can carry up to 71 soldiers or 50 paratroopers with combat loads. It can transport supplies to locations not accessible to heavier IAF transport aircraft, such as the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Super Hercules, or Ilyushin 76.
The C-295 can also be used for medical evacuation (medevac), using either base litters or mobile intensive care units with life support equipment. It can also perform special missions, disaster response and maritime patrol missions.
The MoD said earlier that the C-295 would bolster the IAF’s tactical airlift capability, particularly on the northern and northeast borders and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The C-295 is the first major victory in India for Airbus Defense. There may be others, including the Naval Utility Helicopter tender, in which it offers the H135M and AS565 Panther.
Airbus is also participating in the acquisition by the IAF of in-flight tankers, for which it has put the A330 MRTT into service.
