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Knowledge Nugget: C295 aircraft

Subject: Defence and Security

(Relevance: Developments related to the defense sector have become crucial for the exam, especially as the Government of India promotes the indigenization of defense technology.)

On Monday (October 28th) Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a plant in Vadodara where Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) will manufacture the C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). It will be the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

1. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was also present in the inauguration. Notably, the two leaders had previously laid the foundation stone for the Final Assembly Line (FAL) plant in October 2022.

2. The C295 was originally produced by a Spanish aircraft manufacturer named Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA. This company is now part of Airbus and the aircraft’s manufacturing takes place at Airbus’s plant in Spain.

3. In September 2021, India signed a deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C295 aircraft. This acquisition is intended to replace the Indian Air Force’s ageing Avro-748 planes, which have been in service since the early 1960s.

4. As per 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 by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

5. A total of 16 fly-away aircraft will be delivered between September 2023 and August 2025. The first Made-in-India aircraft is scheduled to roll out from the manufacturing facility in September 2026. The remaining 39 aircraft must be produced by August 2031.

6. The C295MW is a transport aircraft with a capacity of 5 to 10 tonnes and a maximum speed of 480 km/h. It features a rear ramp door for quick deployment, allowing for the rapid dropping of troops and cargo. Additionally, it is capable of short take-offs and landings from semi-prepared surfaces.

7. The C295 can perform a variety of missions, such as carrying troops and cargo, maritime patrol, airborne warning, surveillance and reconnaissance, armed close air support, medical evacuation, VIP transport, and airborne firefighting.

8. According to the technical specifications released by Airbus, the aircraft has a cabin dimension of 12.7 meters (or 41 feet 8 inches). Furthermore, C295 is said to have a greater cargo capacity than its competitors, enabling direct off-loading through the rear ramp.

9. C295 can also operate on short unprepared airstrips as it is capable of Short Take-off and Landing (STOL). It can operate from short airstrips just 2,200 feet long and can fly low-level operations for tactical missions flying at a low speed of 110 knots, says Airbus.

The indigenous content in the plane will be the highest ever in India, and that 96 per cent of the work that Airbus does in Spain to produce the plane will be done at the manufacturing unit in Vadodara, said Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar

10. Barring major components such as the engine and avionics – which have been sourced from the US-based Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace – there will be a transfer of manufacturing technology to TASL by Airbus on most other components so that 95 per cent of the aircraft could be made in India within the next few years.

11. The aircraft will be equipped with indigenous radar warning receivers and missile approach warning systems developed by Bharat Electronics Limited.

1. The inauguration of a plant in Vadodara for manufacturing the C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force marks the beginning of India’s first-ever ‘Make in India’ Aerospace program in the private sector.

2. The “Make in India” initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on  September 25, 2014. It was designed to transform India into a global hub for design and manufacturing.

3. Seen as an important ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative, Make in India’s objective is twofold. Firstly, to boost India’s manufacturing capabilities and secondly to showcase its industrial potential on a global stage.

4. Key Pillars of “Make in India” Initiative:

(i) New Processes: To enhance the business environment, promote entrepreneurship and startups – ‘ease of doing business’ became a crucial factor.

(ii) New Infrastructure: Development of industrial corridors, smart cities, integrating state-of-the-art technology and high-speed communication to create world-class infrastructure, improving intellectual property rights (IPR) infrastructure etc.

(iii) New Sectors: Opening of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors like Defence Production, Insurance, Medical Devices, Construction, and Railway infrastructure.

(iv) New Mindset: In order to support industrial growth and innovation – the government embraced a role as a facilitator rather than a regulator. The Government partners with industry in the economic development of the country.

(Sources: All about C295 aircraft, IAF takes delivery of first C295, knowledge nugget: 10 years of Make In India)

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