IAF Transport Aircraft to be made in India by Airbus Defence & TATA Consortium

In a way that is conducive to 'Make in India' and domestic aviation production, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the groundwork for a transport aircraft manufacturing project for the Indian Air Force in Vadodara, Gujarat, on October 30, 2022. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has recently approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from M/s Airbus Defence and Space, Spain, and the Ministry of Defence has entered into a contract for the acquisition of the aircraft and associated equipment. Let us know more about the deal and its major features.

 

• At a press conference in New Delhi on October 27, 2022, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar said that as part of the contract, 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition and 40 will be manufactured in India by TATA Consortium, the Indian aircraft contractor.

• This is the first project of its kind in which a private company will manufacture a military aircraft in India. The project's total cost is Rs 21,935 crore. The aircraft can also be used for civilian purposes. 

• The first 16 fly-away aircraft are expected to arrive between September 2023 and August 2025. The first Made in India aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in September 2026.

 

The capability of the Aircraft

 

The project provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter the technologically advanced and highly competitive aviation industry. It will boost domestic aviation manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports and increasing exports. C-295 MW is a 5-10 tonne transport aircraft with modern technology that will replace the existing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force. It has a back ramp door for the quick response and para-dropping troops and cargo. Another feature is the ability to take off and land quickly from semi-prepared surfaces. The aircraft will improve the logistical capabilities of the Indian Air Force. 

 

• The TATA Consortium will perform 96% of the total man-hour work per aircraft that Airbus employs at its manufacturing facility in Spain. 

• Over 13,400 detailed parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies, and all seven major component assemblies will be manufactured in India. 

• Airbus Defence & Space will supply various systems such as engines, landing gear, and avionics, which will be integrated into the aircraft by the TATA Consortium. 

• The TATA Consortium will test the aircraft as an integrated system. The aircraft will also be flight tested and delivered through the TATA Consortium.

 

After delivering 56 aircraft to the Indian Air Force, M/s Airbus Defence & Space will be permitted to sell aircraft manufactured in India to civil operators and export to countries approved by the Government of India. The TATA Consortium has identified over 125 domestic MSME suppliers spread across seven states. This will act as a catalyst for job creation in the country's aerospace ecosystem, generating 600 highly skilled jobs directly, over 3,000 indirect jobs, and an additional 3,000 medium-skill employment opportunities in India's aerospace and defence sector.