A new chapter in Indian aerospace opened on Oct. 28 with the inauguration of a final assembly line for the Airbus C295 military transport. The event was a major publicity coup for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez sharing the limelight. Significantly, the Vadodara factory is the first in India to be run by a private company, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
Photo: Airbus
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered 56 C295s to replace its elderly Avro transports. Sixteen will be delivered from Airbus’ Spanish production line, with the remaining 40 to be assembled by TASL. The C295 can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers. It is capable of operating from short and unprepared airstrips, making it ideal for India’s diverse geography. The aircraft can also be used for a variety of other missions, including casualty evacuation and maritime patrol.
The selection of the C295 was a major boost for Airbus, which beat off competition from the Leonardo C-27J. The deal was signed in 2021, with Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn describing it as a ‘segment leader’ and predicting that it would ‘enlarge its footprint even more’. The C295 program has already attracted 35 operators around the world, with over 200 aircraft in service.
The Vadodara inauguration is the culmination of a long process. Modi laid the foundation stone for the factory back in October 2022. The C295 program is a key element in India’s ‘Make in India’ industrial policy, aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on imported arms. It is expected to create 15,000 skilled jobs directly, plus 10,000 indirectly, over the next 10 years. The program will also benefit leading defence public sector units such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd., as well as numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
For TASL, the C295 project is a chance to establish itself as a major player in the global aerospace market. The company, a subsidiary of the giant Tata Sons conglomerate, is already a key partner for international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and for India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has developed expertise in a wide range of defence technologies, including missiles, radars and unmanned aerial systems. TASL’s CEO Sukaran Singh described the C295 project as ‘a moment of pride’ and ‘a milestone for the Indian military manufacturing ecosystem.’
The Vadodara factory will handle all aspects of the C295’s life cycle, from manufacture and assembly, through testing and qualification, to delivery and long-term maintenance. It will contribute significantly to the development of India’s aerospace ecosystem.
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