BIG boost to 'Make-in-India': Tata-Airbus to manufacture C-295 aircraft in Gujarat, PM Modi to lay foundation stone on Oct 30

The Tata-Airbus JV will manufacture the C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force in Vadodara, Gujarat said Defence Officials on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing plant in Vadodara, Gujarat on October 30, said Defence Ministry spokesperson. "For the first time, the C-295 aircraft will be manufactured outside of Europe," Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said. In September last year, India sealed a nearly Rs 21,000 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the ageing Avro-748 planes of the IAF under a project that entails manufacturing of military aircraft in India for the first time by a private company.

PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing plant in Vadodara, Gujarat on October 30: Defence Ministry spokesperson https://t.co/70zmDCnETo

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022

Under the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in 'fly-away' condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain within four years and the subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.The regulatory approval for the ambitious programme was accorded by the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) last week.

C-295 transport aircraft

IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Sandeep Singh said the aircraft can carry around 40-45 paratroopers or around 70 passengers. He also suggested it would be able to operate from Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and even unprepared runways.

It is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company, Kumar said, adding its total cost is Rs 21,935 crore. He said the indigenous content in the plane will be as high as "96 per cent of the work that Airbus does at its facility in Spain will be done in India", adding it would not include the engine of the aircraft.

The C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the IAF. It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off and landing from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features.

The defence ministry said manufacturing of over 13,400 detail parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all the seven major component assemblies will be undertaken in India. It said various systems such as engines, landing gear and avionics will be provided by Airbus Defence and Space and integrated on the aircraft by the TATA Consortium.

With PTI inputs