India received its first C-295 transport aircraft from the Airbus Defence and Space on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. The delivery, which took place at Airbus's production facility in Seville, Spain, marks the commencement of a substantial Rs 21,935-crore project comprising 56 aircraft that was finalised two years ago, aimed at rejuvenating India's air assets.
#WATCH | First C-295 transport aircraft to be received by Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in Seville, Spain today from Airbus pic.twitter.com/bI8l1iJvy5
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2023
Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Chief of Air Staff, received the aircraft in Seville, where Airbus will deliver the initial 16 aircraft in "fly-away" condition by 2025.
The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled in India as part of a collaborative industrial partnership between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL).
#WATCH | IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari receives the keys first C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus in Spain.
The Indian Air Force chief will fly the aircraft today. The aircraft is going to be inducted officially in India at a ceremony at Hindon Airbase on September… pic.twitter.com/78k3rIdHLu— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2023
Key features of the Airbus C-295
# Payload capacity of carrying up to 9 tonnes or 71 tonnes
# Maximum cruise speed of 260 knots
# Equipped with air-to-air refuelling for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters
# Retractable landing gear
# Unobstructured 12.69 metre-long pressurised cabin
# Cruising altitudes up to 30,000 square feet
# Ability to perform short take-offs and landings from unpaved, soft and sandy/grass airstrips
# Powered by two Pratty & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines
# Endurance of up to 13 hours aloft
Moreover, the aircraft can perform airdrops, medical evacuations, special missions, disaster response, and maritime patrol duties. The Pratt & Whitney engines provide manoeuvrability, hot-and-high performance with adequate fuel consumption for a long endurance.
#WATCH | First C-295 transport aircraft to be received by Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in Seville, Spain today from Airbus pic.twitter.com/ypCY29dWFu
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2023
India's journey with the C-295 aircraft
On receiving the delivery, Chaudhari said it was a "major milestone" not only for the IAF but for India as a whole. He pointed out two reasons: an improvement in the country's tactical airlift capabilities and a step towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
"It's a big step for the Indian aviation industry where we will be manufacturing the first military transport aircraft in the country," he added.
This initiative gained momentum in October 2022 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a manufacturing facility in Vadodara marking the first time a private consortium in India manufactured military aircraft.
The procurement of C-295 aircraft is pivotal for the IAF as it seeks to retire its ageing Avro-748 planes, which have been in service for over six decades. The global C-295 program has received orders from 39 operators, totalling 280 aircraft, establishing its reputation as a unique aircraft in terms of weight and mission capabilities.
In May, the first C-295 aircraft constructed for India successfully completed its maiden flight in Seville, with the second one currently in the final assembly phase, set to be delivered to the IAF in May 2024.
Extensive training for six IAF pilots and 20 technicians has already taken place at the Seville facility. The Vadodara-based final assembly line for the C-295 aircraft is scheduled to become operational in November 2024.
(Edited by : Ayushi Agarwal)
First Published: Sept 13, 2023 4:29 PM IST
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