C-295 Transport Aircraft, the future workhorse for the Indian Air force
The versatile Dacotas DC3 got augmented by the Packets C119 as workhorse of the IAF till the Dakotas finally bowed out. The ever green Packets then got augmented by the Avros HS748. The initial lot of Avros were imported but then HAL started making them at Kanpur. Next came the AN32s and both have continued as the Work Horse, with Avros slowly owing out.
Now with an eye on ‘Make in India’ and domestic aviation manufacturing, Prime Minister will be laying the foundation stone of a transport aircraft manufacturing project for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Vadodara, Gujarat on October 30.
After a long period of trials and negotiations, C295 MW transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain got selected for the IAF as Utility transporter. After due approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security for the procurement of 56 C-295MW the Ministry of Defence signed a contract in Sep 2021 with M/s Airbus Defence and Space S.A. for the acquisition of the aircraft with associated equipment.
The Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar said, “as part of the contract, 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition and 40 will be manufactured in India by the Indian Aircraft Contractor, TATA Consortium of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) led by TASL. This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. The total cost of the project is Rs 21,935 crore. The aircraft can be used for civilian purposes as well,” he added.
The first 16 aircrafts are scheduled to be received between September 2023 and August 2025. The first Made in India aircraft is expected in September 2026.
C-295MW is a utility transport aircraft of 10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology most suitable replacement not only for the already aged Avro aircraft of IAF but also for the already 35 years old AN32s. Like the AN32, it has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features.
So once the five existing Squadrons of Avros are replaced in say next five years, these same aircrafts will need to start replacing the existing nine squadrons of AN32s that is around additional 108 aircrafts.
All stakeholders….MoD, IAF, NAL and HAL should already start working in earnest also on a medium transport aircraft in 20 ton payload capacity for the foreseeable future. We do require around 12 squadrons of such aircrafts to fight a two front war. Presently we just have two squadrons in this category -the Hercules C130.
