New Delhi: In a significant milestone for India’s defense modernization, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially taken delivery of its first C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari presided over the handing-over ceremony held in Seville, Spain.
This aircraft marks the inaugural installment of 56 C-295 planes that the IAF ordered as part of a ₹21,935-crore project aimed at upgrading its transport fleet. Airbus will supply 16 aircraft in a flyaway condition, with the remaining planes to be assembled in India at a Tata facility located in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The initial C-295 is expected to soon embark on its journey to India, where it will be formally inducted during a ceremony scheduled at the Hindon airbase later this month.
This delivery comes two years after the Indian Ministry of Defence inked a contract with Airbus for the procurement of 56 C-295 aircraft, a strategic move aimed at bolstering self-reliance in India’s defense manufacturing sector. Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus are partnering in the implementation of this extensive program.
The second C-295 for the IAF is currently undergoing its final assembly at Airbus’s Seville facility and is set for delivery in May 2024, according to officials. The delivery schedule spans until August 2025 for the 16 flyaway aircraft, with the first ‘Made in India’ C-295 anticipated to roll off the Vadodara production line in September 2026. The remaining 39 aircraft are expected to follow suit by August 2031.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the construction of the Vadodara manufacturing facility in October 2022. Notably, the C-295 will mark the first military aircraft to be produced in India by a private consortium, positioning the IAF as the world’s largest operator of the C-295.
These C-295 aircraft were procured to replace the IAF’s aging Avro-748 fleet, which entered service in the early 1960s. Under the C-295 India project, over 13,000 parts, 4,600 subassemblies, and all major component assemblies will be manufactured in India. Key equipment components such as engines, landing gear, and avionics will be supplied by Airbus and then integrated into the aircraft. The tactical airlifter is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney PW127G turboprop engines.
The C-295 contract encompasses performance-based logistics support for five years, spare supply for ten years across ten operating bases, ground support, test equipment, and training, according to officials. The C-295 boasts a payload capacity of up to 9 tonnes, capable of transporting 71 personnel or 45 paratroopers, with a maximum speed of 480 km/h. It can operate from short or unprepared airstrips and features a rear ramp for para-dropping troops and cargo.
