In News:

• Recently, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Final Assembly Line (FAL) plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, for the manufacturing of the C-295 aircraft.
• The plant is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus.
• This is the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India.

Key Details:

• Manufacturing Timeline
  • Contract: In September 2021, India signed a ?21,935 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C-295 aircraft to replace the IAF’s ageing Avro-748 fleet.
  • Production Plan:
    • The first 16 aircraft will be delivered from Airbus’s plant in Seville, Spain, between September 2023 and August 2025.
    • The remaining 40 aircraft will be produced in India by TASL, with the first “Made-in-India” C-295 rolling out in September 2026.
    • The entire fleet (56 aircraft) is expected to be delivered by August 2031.
• Key Features and Specifications
  • Type: Tactical transport aircraft with a capacity of 5 to 10 tonnes.
  • Maximum Speed: 480 km/h.
  • Cabin Dimensions: 12.7 meters (41 feet 8 inches), the longest unobstructed cabin in its class.
  • Passenger Capacity: Can accommodate up to 71 seats.
  • Cargo Handling: Rear ramp door for quick loading/unloading and para-dropping.
  • Short Take-off and Landing (STOL): Capable of operating from airstrips as short as 2,200 feet.
• Significance for the Indian Air Force (IAF)
  • The C-295 will enhance the medium-lift tactical capability of the IAF.
  • It will replace the ageing Soviet-origin AN-32 aircraft, which are nearing the end of their operational life.
  • The C-295 will bridge the capability gap in troop and cargo transport over short and medium distances.
• Indigenous Content
  • Indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite: All 56 aircraft will be equipped with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
  • Made-in-India Components: 96% of the work that Airbus does in Spain will be done at the Vadodara plant, making it one of the highest-ever indigenous contributions for an aircraft in India.
• Global Operations of the C-295
  • The C-295 is operational in various challenging terrains worldwide, including:
    • Brazilian jungles, Colombian mountains (South America)
    • Deserts of Algeria and Jordan (Middle East)
    • Cold climates of Poland and Finland (Europe)
    • Military operations in Chad, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
• Roles and Capabilities
  • Tactical Transport: Can transport troops and supplies from main airfields to forward operating airfields.
  • Short Take-off and Landing (STOL): Capable of operating from short, unprepared airstrips.
  • Low-level Operations: Can conduct low-speed, low-level missions at 110 knots.
  • Other Missions: Suitable for casualty evacuation, special missions, disaster relief, and maritime patrol.