Tata to create India’s first locally made Airbus C-295 aircraft for IAF

In a recent development, it has been notified that the Tata and Airbus collaboration will give rise to the production of transport carriers in Vadodara, Gujarat.

The Chairman of Tata Sons, the Tata Group, N Chandrasekaran, proudly announced that the company will now be able to create indigenous Airbus C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) by melting aluminium ingots after the opening of the final assembly plant in Vadodara. 

This is a proud moment for India and Tata Industries, as one of its forefathers, J.R.D. Tata was the first licensed pilot in India.

The tactical airlifter of a new generation, the Airbus C295, recently completed its successful maiden flight for India. Airbus stated that this achievement is a crucial milestone towards delivery in the second half of 2023. The manufacturing company made the announcement a few months before the development was considered for amendment.

In September 2021, India bought 56 C295 planes to swap the outdated AVRO fleet of the IAF. The initial 16 aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain, and delivered to India in ready-to-fly condition. The remaining 40 planes will be manufactured and assembled in India by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

After India gets these aircraft, it will become the 35th C-295 operator globally.

Thirty-eight operators have ordered the C-295 in thirty-four different countries, and it has completed over 5,00,000 flying hours. The Navy and the Coast Guard have shown interest in the aircraft, and it might also be exported in the future.

The AN-32 aircraft, currently in service with the IAF, might be replaced by the C-295 in the future, but Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Vice Chief of IAF, stated that a decision about this would be made in around five years.

The cabin of the C-295 measures 12.7 meters and can accommodate up to 71 passengers. According to the manufacturer, it has the most extended continuous cabin and can transport more freight than its competitors. It is assumable that such a great structure would require a lot of aluminium to be assembled, and the recyclablity of the metal will lower the operational cost in the long run.