The Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the long pending Procurement nearly USD 3 billion-deal for procuring 56 Airbus C-295MW transport aircraft for the Indian AirForce (IAF). The aircraft will replace the ageing IAF fleet of Avro 748 transport aircraft that first flew in 1961.
In first of this, 16 aircraft being delivered in flyaway condition from Spain within 48 months of signing of the contract.
The remaining 48 aircraft will be manufactured in India by the TATA Consortium within 10 years of signing the contract.
This is the first defence contract the European firm Airbus has signed with India since the 1960s despite being in the country for over five decades.
It is also the first project in India in which a military aircraft will be manufactured by a private company.
All 56 aircraft will be installed with the indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.
The C-295 is a medium tactical transport aircraft that was designed by the Spanish company CASA in the 1990s as a development of the CASA-Nurtanio CN-235. When CASA was incorporated into the European aeronautical group EADS in 2000, the aircraft was designated as the EADS CASA C-295. It made its first flight on 28 November 1997.
The C-295 is manufactured and assembled in the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in San Pablo Airport, located in Seville, Spain. It is a development of the Spanish–Indonesian transport aircraft CASA/IPTN CN-235, but with a stretched fuselage, 50% more payload capability and new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines.
Key Features:-
Crew: 2
Capacity: 73 troops / 48 paratroops / 12 stretcher intensive care medevac / 27 stretcher medevac with 4 medical attendants
Maximum payload: 7,050 kg (15,543 lb) normal
9,250 kg (20,393 lb) overload
Max takeoff weight: 21,000 kg (46,297 lb) normal
23,200 kg (51,147 lb) overload
Maximum landing weight: 20,700 kg (45,636 lb) normal
23,200 kg (51,147 lb) overload
Engines:- 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, 1,972 kW (2,644 hp) each for take-off (normal)
2,177 kW (2,919 hp) with APR
Propellers: 6-bladed Hamilton Sundstrand HS-586F-5, 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in) diameter composite propellers with auto-feathering and synchro-phasing
Others :-
Cruise speed: 482 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at optimum altitude
Range: 1,555 km (966 mi) normal payload
Ferry range: 5,000 km (3,100 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,125 m (13,533 ft) on one engine
Absolute ceiling: 9,145 m (30,003 ft)
g limits: +2.53 (normal MTOW)
+2.25 (overload MTOW)
Take-off run: 844 m (2,769 ft) Sea level, ISA
934 m (3,064 ft) Sea level, ISA + 20
Take-off distance to 15 m (49 ft): 1,025 m (3,363 ft) Sea level, ISA
1,103 m (3,619 ft) Sea level, ISA + 20
Landing run: 420 m (1,378 ft)
Landing distance from 15 m (49 ft): 729 m (2,392 ft)
Weapons & Armament:-
6 Hardpoints (optional: three under each wing) with a capacity of inboard pylons 800 kg (1,764 lb), centre pylons 500 kg (1,102 lb), outboard pylons 300 kg (661 lb)
Radar:-
Honeywell RDR-1400C weather radar
IFR instrumentation, comms and FMS as specified by customers
However, it is yet unclear where the Airbus aircraft will be built, though TATA has an aviation set up in Hyderabad.
Before completion of deliveries, ‘D’ Level servicing facility (MRO) for C-295MW aircraft is scheduled to be set up in India and it is expected that this facility will act as a regional MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) hub for various variants of C-295 aircraft, the defence ministry said.
A large number of detail parts, sub-assemblies and major component assemblies of aero structure are scheduled to be manufactured in India. The programme will act as a catalyst in employment generation in the aerospace ecosystem of the country and is expected to generate 600 highly skilled jobs directly, over 3,000 indirect jobs and an additional 3,000 medium-skill employment opportunities with more than 42.5 lakh man hours of work within the aerospace and defence sector of India,” the defence ministry said.
“It will involve development of specialized infrastructure in form of hangars, buildings, aprons and taxiway. During the process of manufacturing in India, it is expected that all the suppliers of TATA Consortium who will be involved in special processes, will gain and maintain globally recognized National Aerospace and Defence Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) accreditation,”.
Jai Hind🇮🇳🇮🇳
