Indian Air Force receives first C-295 aircraft from Airbus

The Indian Air Force received the first of the 56 C295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space on Wednesday. The symbolic key of the C295 aircraft was handed over to the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari at the aerospace company's production facility in the Spanish city of Seville. This marks the start of the delivery of the planes which are a part of a Rs 21,935-crore project that was sealed two year's back as part of an overall aim to modernise India's air assets.

Indian Air Force-Airbus C-295 deal: Details

As per the deal signed between the IAF and Airbus, the aerospace company will deliver the first 16 C-295 aircraft in 'fly-away' condition from its final assembly line in Seville by 2025. The next 40 aircraft are to be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

#WATCH | First C-295 transport aircraft to be received by Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in Seville, Spain today from Airbus pic.twitter.com/bI8l1iJvy5

— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the manufacturing facility for C295 planes in Vadodara in October last year. The final assembly line for the C295 aircraft at Vadodara will be operational by November next year.

The Airbus C295 will be the first military aircraft to be manufactured in India by a private consortium. After the mega deal was finalised last year, Airbus said the C295 programme will see the company bring its complete bouquet of world-class aircraft manufacturing and servicing to India in collaboration with its industrial partners.

Why IAF Chose Airbus C-295 Aircraft 

The C295 is known to be a superior aircraft used for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, and for logistic operations to locations that are not accessible to current heavier aircraft.

The aircraft can airdrop paratroops and loads, and also be used for casualty or medical evacuation. And it is capable of performing special missions as well as disaster response and maritime patrol duties.

The IAF is procuring 56 C295 aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Avro-748 planes that were commissioned into service over six decades back.

VIDEO | Airbus hands over symbolic keys of C295 aircraft to IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in Seville, Spain. pic.twitter.com/jCTsfSBM1B

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 13, 2023

(With Agency Inputs)