On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spain Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurated India’s first private military transport aircraft production plant in Gujarat’s Vadodra. Notably, it is India’s first final assembly line in the private aviation industry.
Located at the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus, the facility will be accountable for manufacturing the Airbus C295 aircraft, marking a milestone for India’s aerospace industry, the manufacturing ecosystem and defence capabilities. According to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ‘Make in India’ project is a game changer for India in many ways.
. C295 AIRCRAFT ENHANCES INDIAN DEFENCE
The introduction of the C295 aircraft into the Indian Air Force (IAF) marks a upgrade in the country’s airlift capabilities. Airbus Defence and Space designed and manufactured the aircraft. It is versatile and can perform a variety of missions, including troop transport, cargo airlift, medical evacuation, and maritime patrol.
The C295 will replace the ageing fleet of the Soviet Antonov An-32 and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Avro 748. Defence expert Kunal Biswas wrote on X, “The Airbus C295 is a technological capability leap compared to the Avro 748”.
C295, A BOOST TO ‘MAKE IN INDIA’
The C295 project has come up to be a cornerstone of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, which aims to reduce dependence on imports and promote domestic manufacturing.
Under the C-295 programme, a total of 56 aircraft are planned, with Airbus delivering the first 16 C295 aircraft in fly-away condition from its Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Spain. The remaining 40 aircraft will be built and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) at the new facility in Vadodara.
JOB CREATION AND A BOOST TO ECOSYSTEM
The Tata-Airbus C295 project will have impact on employment and the local economy. The establishment of the C295 manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, has to diversify India’s aerospace industry, which has traditionally been concentrated in southern regions like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Belgaum.
The collaboration will create over 3,000 jobs at many sites and support more than 15,000 indirect jobs across the supply chain. The assembly of each aircraft will require over 1 million hours of labour effort from TASL and its suppliers, fostering a skilled workforce.
BUILDING INDIA’S AEROSPACE INFRASTRUCTURE
The introduction of the C295 aircraft also includes the establishment of comprehensive training and maintenance infrastructure. Training facilities are being developed to train IAF personnel to operate and maintain the C295 aircraft efficiently.
This includes the setup of maintenance facilities, supply chains for spare parts, and long-term support agreements to ensure the continued airworthiness of India’s C295 fleet. The project includes the establishment of a Stick Holding Depot in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj and a Training Centre at the Air Force Station in Agra, according to the MyGovIndia X handle.
C295 PROJECT STEP TOWARDS AVIATION EXPORT
The C295 project is not only crucial for India’s domestic needs but also holds promise for future export opportunities. The Tata-Airbus manufacturing facility will not only advance India’s aim to export aircraft but also contribute to the production of the country’s first civil aircraft, PM Modi said in Vadodra.
After the completion of the delivery of 56 aircraft to the IAF, Airbus Defence and Space will be allowed to sell the aircraft manufactured in India to civil operators and export them to countries cleared by the Government of India after the completion of the delivery of 56 aircraft to the IAF.
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