Meet IAF C295, the transport aircraft Tata-Airbus will make in Gujarat as PM Modi lays foundation stone in Vadodara: IN PICS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of the C-295 Aircraft Manufacturing Facility in Gujarat as the first aircraft manufacturing facility in the private sector in the country. 

The facility in Vadodara, will be utilised for the manufacturing of 40 C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force, through collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space, Spain.

In September 2021, 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.

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.

The aircraft can carry around 40-45 paratroopers or around 70 passengers and it would be able to operate from Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and even unprepared runways.

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.

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.