C-295MW Aircraft

C-295 Aircraft News

• The facility will be set up by Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
• This is the first time a private sector aviation company would be manufacturing a full aircraft in the country. It will be first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company.

C-295 Aircraft India

• The C-295MW is a transport aircraft which will replace the legacy Avro aircraft in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The C-295 is also a potential replacement for the AN-32 aircraft of Indian Air Force.
• Capacity: It has 5 to 10-tonne capacity and a maximum speed of 480 kmph.
• Salient features:
  • The C-295 has very good fuel efficiency.
  • The aircraft can take off and land from short as well as unprepared runways.
  • It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo.
• Functions:
  •  It can carry troops and logistical supplies from main airfields to forward operating airfields of the country.
  • It can fly low-level operations for tactical missions flying at a low speed of 110 knots.
  • The aircraft can be used for casualty or medical evacuation, performing special missions, disaster response and maritime patrol duties.

C-295 Aircraft Transporter Deal

• The deal: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a Rs 21,935 crore contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the acquisition of 56 C-295MW aircraft along with associated equipment.
• Squadron: The first squadron of C-295MW will be based in Vadodara by converting the Avro squadron currently located there.
• Significance of C-295MW manufacturing in India:
• Private aerospace industry: The move will lead to development of a strong private industrial aerospace ecosystem across the country.
• Creation of jobs: The C-295 project is expected to generate more than 15,000 skilled direct and indirect jobs across the aerospace ecosystem.
• Manufacturing sector growth: The project would manufacture 13,400 detail parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all the seven major component assemblies in the country, boosting manufacturing sector.

C-295 Aircraft Domestic Aircraft Manufacturing Ecosystem In India

• Indian companies have made their presence felt in the global supply chains of major defence and aerospace manufacturers supplying a range of components, systems and sub-systems.
• Joint Ventures till now have clocked $600 million worth of exports and produced over $200 million in Indian industry revenue.
• Boeing sources equipment worth $1 billion from India annually. Over 60% of these are in manufacturing, with 25% of these being micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).
• Reasons for growth: The U.S. simplifying its export regulations for India through a series of measures has given impetus for aerospace manufacturing in India.

C-295 Aircraft Status of Indian Aviation Sector:

• Civil aviation manufacturing sector: India has a much bigger footprint in civil aviation manufacturing than defence. Both Airbus and Boeing source parts from India for their civil programmes.
  • Airbus buys manufactured parts and engineering services worth $650 million every year from more than 45 Indian suppliers.
  • Airbus also runs a wholly domestic-owned design centre.
• Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO): India has the potential to emerge as the regional hub in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO).
• Private defence sector: The private defence sector is still nascent and there is a requirement for conducive and stable regulatory and policy environment.
  • This will help India emerge as a hub for aircraft manufacturing in the world.

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