• The defence ministry signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space, Spain to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under a project that entails manufacturing of military aircraft in the country for the first time by a private company.

• The contract was signed two weeks after it was cleared by the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security.

• Under the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain. 

• The subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

Key points of the deal:

• The induction of C-295 will be a significant step towards modernisation of the transport fleet of the IAF. 

• The C-295 programme will see Airbus bring its complete bouquet of world-class aircraft manufacturing and servicing to India in collaboration with its industrial partners, including the Tatas and leading defence public sector units such as Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd.

• With a proven capability of operating from short or unprepared airstrips, the C-295 is used for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, and for logistic operations to locations that are not accessible to current heavier aircraft. 

• The aircraft can airdrop paratroops and loads, and also be used for casualty or medical evacuation. 

• The aircraft is capable of performing special missions as well as disaster response and maritime patrol duties.

• It will give a major boost to the tactical airlift capability of IAF, especially in the northern and north-eastern sector and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

• The first 16 aircrafts will be delivered over four years after the contract implementation and all the planes will be equipped with an indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite (EWS).  

• This contract will support the further development of India’s aerospace ecosystem, bringing investment and 15,000 skilled direct jobs and 10,000 indirect positions over the coming 10 years.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store