C295 AIRCRAFT

The inauguration was attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who, along with the other leader, had previously laid the foundation stone for the Final Assembly Line (FAL) plant in October 2022.

The C295 was initially manufactured by a Spanish company known as Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA, which is now incorporated into Airbus. The aircraft is now produced at Airbus’s facility in Spain.

In September 2021, India finalized an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space for the purchase of 56 C295 aircraft, aiming to replace the Indian Air Force’s aging Avro-748 aircraft that have been operational since the early 1960s.

According to the contract, Airbus will supply the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, within four years. The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) as part of a collaborative industrial effort.

The delivery of the 16 fly-away aircraft is scheduled between September 2023 and August 2025. The first aircraft produced in India is expected to be ready by September 2026, with the production of the remaining 39 aircraft required to be completed by August 2031.

The C295MW is designed as a transport aircraft with a payload capacity ranging from 5 to 10 tonnes and a maximum speed of 480 km/h. It features a rear ramp door that facilitates rapid deployment, allowing for quick troop and cargo drops. Additionally, it is capable of short take-offs and landings on semi-prepared surfaces.

The C295 can undertake various missions, including troop and cargo transport, maritime patrol, airborne warning, surveillance and reconnaissance, armed close air support, medical evacuations, VIP transport, and firefighting from the air.

Based on technical details provided by Airbus, the aircraft’s cabin measures 12.7 meters (or 41 feet 8 inches) in length. The C295 is reported to have a superior cargo capacity compared to its competitors, enabling direct unloading through its rear ramp.

The C295 is designed to operate from short, unprepared airstrips, capable of Short Take-off and Landing (STOL). It can function from airstrips as short as 2,200 feet and conduct low-level tactical missions at a slow speed of 110 knots, according to Airbus.

Except for key components like the engine and avionics, which are sourced from US companies Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace, Airbus plans to transfer manufacturing technology to TASL for most other components. This would enable 95 percent of the aircraft to be produced in India in the coming years.

The aircraft will feature indigenous radar warning receivers and missile approach warning systems developed by Bharat Electronics Limited