C-295 Aircraft

Table of Contents

C-295 Aircraft- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 3: Security- Security challenges and their management in border areas.

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
C-295 Aircraft will replace India’s ageing Avro planes which were first inducted around 60 years ago.

About C-295 Aircraft: It is a Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) of 20 tonnes which will replace Avro-748 transport aircraft procured in the 1960s.
Avro-748 Planes: They are a British-origin twin-engine turboprop, with a 6-tonne freight capacity.
Key Features: C-295 Aircraft has a 5-10 tonne capacity.
- It also has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo.
- It is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW127 engines, part of the PW100 family.
- All 56 aircraft will be installed with the indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.
Manufacturing:
- 16 C-295 aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway condition by Airbus Defence and Space SA.
- Make in India: remaining 40 C-295 Aircrafts will be manufactured in India by a consortium of the Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).

Promote Atmanirbhar Bharat: This will provide a major boost to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ as it offers a unique opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter into the technology-intensive and highly competitive aviation Industry.
Private Participation: This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company.
Boost to the aerospace ecosystem in India: as a large number of detail parts, sub-assemblies and major component assemblies of aerostructure were scheduled to be manufactured in India.
Boost to MSME Sector in India: As several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises spread over the country would be involved in the manufacturing parts of the aircraft.
Employment Generation: The program will act as a catalyst in employment generation in the aerospace ecosystem of the country.
- It is expected to generate 600 highly skilled jobs directly, over 3000 indirect jobs and an additional 3000 medium skill employment opportunities with more than 42.5 lakh man-hours of work within the aerospace and defense sector of India.
Infrastructure development: It will involve the development of specialized infrastructure in form of hangars, buildings, aprons, and taxiways.