C-295 Aircraft

• The C-295 transport aircraft production plant, which will be built in Vadodara by Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain, and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), recently had its foundation stone placed .
• This is the first time a complete aircraft will be produced in the nation by a private enterprise.

About The C-295 MW transporter :

• The C-295 is a technologically advanced, 5–10-ton transport aircraft.

• It is a capable tactical transport aircraft that is strong and dependable and can carry out a variety of tasks.

Features:

• The aircraft can perform multi-role missions in all-weather situations and has a flight endurance of up to 11 hours.
• It can regularly conduct combat operations during the day and at night, from arid to coastal regions.
• For fast action and paradropping of troops and cargo, it incorporates a rear ramp entrance. Another one of its features is short takeoff and landing from semi-prepared surfaces.
• It will swap out the Indian Air Force's outdated Avro-748 aircraft fleet.
• The Avro-748 is a twin-engine turboprop military transport and freighter with a 6-tonne cargo capacity that was developed in Britain.

Execution of the Project:

• As part of the Make-in-India effort in the aerospace industry, TASL will collaborate on the project to supply the air force with the new transport aircraft.
• Between September 2023 and August 2025, Airbus will provide the first 16 aircraft in flyaway condition. The remaining 40 aircraft will be constructed in India by TASL between September 2026 and 2031 at a rate of eight aircraft per year.

What role does this manufacturing facility play?

Generation of Employment:

• Over 125 domestic MSME suppliers distributed across seven states have been identified by the TATA Consortium. This will stimulate the creation of jobs in the nation's aerospace ecosystem.
• With more than 42.5 lakh man hours of labour, it is anticipated to create 600 highly skilled jobs directly, over 3000 indirect jobs, and an additional 3000 medium-skill employment prospects in India's aerospace and defence industry.

Boost MSMEs:

• The project will help India's aerospace ecosystem by encouraging the participation of many Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) located all throughout the nation in the production of aeroplane parts.

Reduce Import Dependence:

• The initiative will boost homegrown aircraft production, reducing import dependence and increasing exports, as predicted.
• India will manufacture a sizable quantity of aero structural detail parts, sub-assemblies, and key component assemblies.

Development of Specialized Infrastructure:

• This will entail the construction of hangars, buildings, aprons, and taxiways.
• A "D" Level servicing facility (MRO) for C-295MW aircraft is planned to be established in India before deliveries are finished.
• This facility is anticipated to serve as a regional MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) hub for different C-295 aircraft models.
• Airbus will fulfil its offset requirements by directly acquiring qualifying goods and services from Indian offset partners, significantly boosting the country's economy.
• In its most basic form, an international player's commitment to support India's local defence sector if India purchases defence equipment from it is known as an offset.

What is the Civil Aviation Sector's Potential in India?

• In addition to being a significant market in itself, India has a significantly larger presence in civil aircraft production than in defence. The United States' Boeing and Airbus both get a sizable portion of their civil programmes from India.
• Boeing sources USD 1 billion from India each year, of which more than 60% goes toward production.
• More than 45 Indian suppliers provide India with technical services and manufactured products worth USD 650 million annually.
• By becoming a significant producer of transport aircraft, India, which is going forward with the slogans "Make in India" and "Make for the Globe," continues to increase its potential.
• With over 650 professionals that specialize in high-tech aeronautical engineering and work on both fixed-wing and rotary-wing Airbus aircraft programs, Airbus has operated a totally domestically owned design center in India since 2007.
• According to estimates, India would require an additional 2000 passenger and freight aircraft during the next 10 to 15 years.
• MRO is a further important industry that is expanding and for which India might become the regional centre.
• MRO is any procedure that aids in maintaining or restoring a product to a usable state.