Gujarat Secures a Second Large-scale Project with Tata and Airbus

The C-295 cargo aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be produced in Gujarat’s Vadodara by European aviation giant Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), Tata’s defence division. Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar stated on Thursday that the C-295 aircraft “will be constructed for the first time outside of Europe.” On October 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially lay the cornerstone for the C-295 cargo aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara. According to Kumar, this plant would also produce additional aircraft in the future for both exports and IAF needs. In September 2021, India and Airbus Defence and Space agreed to an approximately 21,000 crore contract for the purchase of 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the IAF’s outdated Avro-748 aircraft. This project calls for the production of military aircraft in India by a private company for the first time. In accordance with the contract, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in “fly-away” condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, within four years. The following 40 aircraft will be produced and assembled by the TASL in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies. The Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) granted the ambitious programme regulatory certification last week. The C295 is a well-known superior aircraft used for logistic operations to places that current bigger aircraft cannot reach and for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers. The aircraft can be utilised for casualty or medical evacuation as well as airdropping loads and paratroopers. The aircraft is equipped to handle special missions, disaster relief operations, and maritime patrol responsibilities.