C-295 aircraft
The CASA C-295 (now Airbus C295) is a medium tactical transport aircraft that was designed and initially manufactured by the Spanish aerospace company CASA.
It is robust and reliable but also highly versatile in terms of the number of different missions it can perform.
The C295 conducts multi-role operations worldwide under all weather conditions.
It is fully certified and routinely operates day and night in combat missions in all weather extremes, from desert to maritime environments, from extremely hot to extremely cold temperatures.
Features
Transporting more payload over larger distances in the hot and high conditions, resulting in fuel consumption savings of around 4% and increased safety margins in mountainous regions.
The C295 has the longest unobstructed cabin in its class.
It can accommodate up to 71 seats, offering a much higher personnel-carrying capability than its competitors in this segment.
For the same reason, it can carry much more palletised cargo with direct offloading through its rear ramp door.
Short take-off and landing (STOL):
The C295’s STOL capability combined with a strong landing gear enable it to operate in the most austere locations with the worst conditions for take-off and landings.
Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) make the C295 Persuader variant the perfect platform for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare missions.
C295 variants:
Armed/Ground Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance version.
Water Bomber
Airborne Early Warning version
C-295 and India
In September 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹22,000-crore deal with Airbus and Space S.A., Spain, for procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft to replace the Avro aircraft in service with the IAF.
As per contract, 16 aircraft would come in fly away condition, manufactured at the Airbus facility in Seville, and 40 would be manufactured in India by Airbus jointly with TASL.
In September 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive the first C-295 transport aircraft.
The second C-295 will be delivered in May 2024 followed by seven aircraft in 2024 at the rate of one per month
C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara to be set up by Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Vadodara will be ready by mid-2024 and start production by November 2024.
This is the first time a private sector company would be manufacturing a full aircraft in the country.
The first aircraft manufactured in India would be delivered in September 2026.
Eventually, IAF will become the largest operator of the C-295.
The contract involving ‘Make-in-India’ and offset obligations is unprecedented.
Airbus has not done a full production system ever, the deal involves 30% offset obligations on top of ‘Make-in-India’ obligations.
The contract includes service support programme: spares, ground support and test equipment, tech publications, training, training devices, performance-based logistics contract.
In March, the contract for Performance Based Logistics for five years was signed as per which a fleet availability rate of 85% would be ensured.
Indigenous radar warning receiver and missile approach warning systems made by Bharat Electronics Limited and countermeasure dispensing system made by Bharat Dynamics Limited have been certified and installed on the first aircraft.
In all, 14,000 detailed parts would be made in India and roughly around 3,500 parts will be industrialised every year.
The project will create 15,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs over 10 years.
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