In a major boost for Make in India in the defence sector, the Indian Coast Guard and the Navy will acquire 15 C-295 transport aircraft that are being manufactured in India in a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus.
Indian Coast Guard, Navy To Buy 15 C-295
In a major boost for Make in India in the defence sector, the Indian Coast Guard and the Navy will acquire 15 C-295 transport aircraft that are being manufactured in India in a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus. The proposals for the acquisition of these 15 aircraft are at an advanced stage in the defence ministry, in which nine planes would be procured by the Navy while six would be taken by the Indian Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard chief informed that shortly his force was also set to sign contracts for nine more advanced-light helicopters, the ALH Dhruv manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The Indian Air Force recently inducted the first C-295 transport aircraft manufactured in Spain. While the first 16 will come from Spain in fly-away condition, the remaining 40 will be produced in India at a Tata facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The order from the Navy and Coast Guard, if approved by the government, will take the Tata Airbus order book to 71 from the existing 56. The C-295 is being used by some of the operators of the plane in maritime patrol roles.
All you need to know about the C-295 transport aircraft:
- The military transport aircraft has a capacity of 10-tonnes and can speed up to a maximum of 480 kmph
- The C-295 MW can transport 71 troops, 50 paratroopers, five standard pallets and 24 healthcare units
- The C-295 can be used for mid-air refuelling of fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters
- The C-295 transport aircraft has the special capability of Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) and can lift even from grass, soft or unpaved surfaces. It can take-off from just a 2,200-feet long airstrip too
- The aircraft that will be formally inducted in the IAF today comes equipped with indigenous radar warning receivers and missile approach warning systems, developed by Bharat Electronics Limited.
- The C-295s will have a countermeasure dispensing system, supplied by Bharat Dynamics Limited
