NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday received its first C-295 transport plane during a ceremony in Spain's Seville.
The aircraft is capable of performing special missions as well as disaster response and maritime patrol duties.A major milestone: IAF chiefAir Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, who was at the ceremony, said the IAF will soon become the largest operator of the C-295 aircraft."The IAF order is for 56 aircraft.
There is also a requirement for the aircraft by Coast Guard, Home Ministry and in future by Indian Navy also.
The numbers may go well beyond 56," said Chaudhari, in Spain The aircraft has been made for India by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus at its facility in Seville.
"The delivery of the first aircraft has been ahead of schedule by 10 days," the IAF chief said, after receiving the symbolic keys of the plane from Airbus."It is a major milestone not only for the IAF but for the whole country.
This is for two reasons - first, for IAF it improves our tactical airlift capabilities.
For the nation, it marks the beginning of a new era.
For Atmanirbhar Bharat, after the first 16 aircraft roll out from this plant, the 17th aircraft onwards will be made in India.
It's a big step for the Indian aviation industry where we will be manufacturing the first military transport aircraft in the country," said the air chief, before taking a sortie in the plane.40 planes to be made in India, first one likely in 2026The IAF has signed a contract for 56 of these planes of which 16 will be made in Spain while the remaining 40 will be produced by the joint venture of Tata and Airbus in their facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
In October last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the manufacturing facility.
It will be the first military aircraft to be manufactured in India by a private consortium.
The final assembly line for the C-295 aircraft in Vadodara is set to be operational by November next year.As per the contract, the remaining 15 aircraft being built in Spain will be delivered by the end of 2024.
The 40 aircraft being built in India will be delivered by 2031, with the first one likely to come out of the hangar around September 2026.An exclusive clubOnce India starts building the planes, it will be the latest entrant in a select group of countries that can make the C-295.
Others in the group include US, UK, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Brazil, China, and Japan.The project will give a boost to aerospace ecosystem in India wherein several MSMEs spread over the country will be involved in the manufacturing of parts of the aircraft.Boost to airlift capability along bordersInduction of the C-295s, which will gradually replace the IAF's old Avro-748 fleet, in the 2023-31 timeframe will boost the IAF's tactical airlift capability along the border with China, as also other places like the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.The C-295s, which will be equipped with indigenous electronic warfare systems, also have rear ramp doors for quick-reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo.
Chaudhari had led the contract negotiations as the then deputy Chief of Air Staff.
The contract, worth nearly Rs 22,000 crore, was signed in September 2021.All you need to know about the C-295 transport plane:The C-295MW aircraft is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity.It can carry as many as 71 troops or 49 para-troopers at a maximum cruise speed of 260 knots.The C295 is designed to provide outstanding low-level flight characteristics for tactical missions, flying at speeds as slow as 110 knots.The aircraft has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo.All 56 aircraft will be installed with an indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite that has been made by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.The C295 is powered by two Pratt - Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines.It has short take-off and landing (STOL) characteristics and the ability to use unprepared airstrips.On medical evacuation missions, the C295 can be fitted with 24 stretchers and seven medical attendants.“The IAF chief would receive the first aircraft on Wednesday.
The plane will fly to India after the ceremony,” defence officials told ANI.
The aircraft is expected to be inducted formally into the service at a ceremony in Hindon Air Force Base around the end of September.Group Captain PS Negi will be flying the aircraft to India with stopovers at Malta, Egypt and Bahrain before landing at Vadodara air base in India.(With inputs from agencies)