The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to get its first C-295 transport aircraft built by Airbus in Spain’s Seville. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the head of the IAF, will be in Spain to take delivery of the C-295 transport aircraft, manufactured for the country by a global aircraft manufacturer.
“The IAF chief would receive the first aircraft from Airbus at their facility in Seville, Spain on Wednesday. The aircraft would be flying to India from there after the ceremony,” defence official told ANI.
Subsequently, the C-295 transport aircraft will touch down in India, and the formal induction into the Indian Air Force will be conducted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In 2021, India signed an agreement with Airbus for the procurement of 56 C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The C-295MW aircraft is a modern transport aircraft with a capacity ranging from 5 to 10 tonnes, designed to replace the aging Avro aircraft within the IAF.
Notably, this aircraft is equipped with contemporary technology and features a rear ramp door, facilitating rapid troop deployment and cargo airdrops when needed.
The Indian Air Force has entered into an agreement for 56 of these aircraft, with 16 to be manufactured in Spain and the remaining 40 to be produced through a joint venture between Tata and Airbus at their facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, within 10 years of the signing of the contract.
This marks the first endeavor of its kind, where a private entity in India will undertake the production of a military aircraft. As per the IAF, this initiative will invigorate the aerospace ecosystem within India, leading to numerous Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in aircraft component manufacturing reaping the benefits.
The program is set to reinforce the central government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ by providing the Indian private sector an exclusive opportunity to engage in the technology-driven and fiercely competitive aviation industry.