Seville (Southern Spain): The C-295 transport plane, which will replace the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s ageing Avro fleet, is currently being manufactured at the TATA Group factory in Hyderabad in partnership with European aviation giant Airbus.
The first batch of six pilots has also completed their training in Spain, and the IAF’s first group of aircraft engineers is currently undergoing training to maintain the planes that will be stationed at ten operating locations.

The IAF has also entered into a five-year Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) agreement with Airbus, making the company contractually obligated to ensure 85 percent availability for the fleet at any point in time. This means that at any point in time, 85 percent of the fleet has to be operationally ready and not be in servicing or wait of spare parts.
While the IAF has ordered 56 C-295 aircraft — each capable of carrying cargo up to 9 tonnes — Airbus officials confirmed that they, along with TATA, are in talks with the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard for the procurement of up to 15 additional aircraft of which nine will be deployed for maritime surveillance.

However, sources in the defence and security establishment told media that the BSF which also operates the Avros, is looking at procuring C-295 aircraft, besides one of the security agencies that is looking to use the aircraft for technical surveillance.

Moreover, the TATA group could also market this aircraft to other countries.

“We need to construct 56 aeroplanes, 40 of which will be made in India. Let’s perform what we’ve been paid to do, is the first obvious response, according to Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus. He was responding to a question regarding the C-295 program’s potential expansion.
“Absolutely, we not only hope but also believe. It is a fantastic aeroplane for the nation. “Fifty-six is both a lot and not a lot,” he added. Dumont continued, “regional opportunities for the aircraft served from India” might exist.
(This story has not been edited by Bharat Express staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)