The C-295 is a transport aircraft with a capacity of five to ten tonnes. (Social media)
National News: India has received the last of 16 C-295 military transport aircraft from Spain, marking an important step in improving its defense power. The C-295 is a modern transport aircraft capable of carrying between 5 to 10 tons of cargo. It is equipped with advanced technology and will replace the old Avro planes used by the Indian Air Force for many years.
This final aircraft was delivered two months earlier than planned. India’s Ambassador to Spain, Dinesh K. Patnaik, accompanied by senior Indian Air Force officials, accepted the aircraft at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville.
The C-295 is known for its long flight time—it can fly for about 11 hours nonstop. It is mainly used for military transport and is suitable for different types of operations. Back in September 2021, India signed a deal with Airbus to buy 56 of these aircraft for the Air Force.
According to the deal, the first 16 planes were to be made and sent from Spain. The remaining 40 will now be built in India under a technology-sharing agreement. With the delivery of the 16th aircraft, Spain has successfully fulfilled its entire commitment under the agreement.
In October last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez together opened the Tata Aircraft Complex at Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in Vadodara, Gujarat. This facility will be responsible for manufacturing the remaining 40 aircraft.
This facility is the first private-sector military aircraft assembly line in India. It will not only build the planes but also handle their testing, servicing, and delivery. This helps create a full defense production system within India.
The Tata Group is leading this major project, but many other companies are also involved. Big government defense companies like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are part of the effort, along with several private small and medium-sized companies (MSMEs).
This project supports the Indian government’s “Make in India” mission. It will reduce India’s dependence on foreign military equipment and increase self-reliance in defense manufacturing over time.
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