New Delhi, The work of replacing the Avro small transporter aircraft, which have been serving in the Indian Air Force for a long time, with Spain's C-295MW has started. On Wednesday, the first C-295MW transporter aircraft was handed over to Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary in Spain. The handing over program started at 1130 am local time. After the handover, this aircraft will reach India within the next one week and it will be officially inducted into the Air Force in Delhi this month. To replace the aging transport fleet, the Government of India had signed an agreement to purchase 56 new C-295MW aircraft from Spain in the year 2021.

Out of these 56 aircraft of Airbus and Tata, 16 aircraft will be fully prepared from Spain and will come to India in flyway condition i.e. by flying directly from Spain, while the remaining 40 will be made in India under license. It will be constructed in Vadodara, Gujarat. The foundation stone of this facility was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself on October 30 last year. An agreement was signed with Spain's Airbus company for 56 C-295MW transport aircraft. Airbus's partner in India is Tata Consortium. For the first time an Indian private company will manufacture military aircraft. In fact, the Avro small transporter aircraft serving in the Indian Air Force since the 60s will now be replaced by Spain's C-295MW.

Features of C-295

The cargo carrying capacity of this new aircraft is 5 to 10 tonnes, which means it can easily carry about 70 soldiers and 50 paratroopers with full battle load. This aircraft also has a rear ramp door for paradropping soldiers and cargo. The special thing about this aircraft is that it is expert in low level flying and can carry out tactical missions. This aircraft can land and take off from short runways. It has the capability to take off from just 670 meters and land on a runway of 320 meters. Can fly for 11 hours at a speed of 480 kilometers per hour. This aircraft is fitted with indigenous electronic warfare suite. During medical evacuation operations, 24 stretchers can be installed in this aircraft.

Air Force engaged in upgrading transport fleet

The Indian Air Force is also conducting an assessment study of the existing transport fleet. According to this, alternatives are also being found for the aircraft which are going to be retired in the coming days. At present, apart from Avro, the Indian Air Force has C-17 Global Master, C-130 Super Hercules, AN-32 and IL 76 transport aircraft. AN-32 and IL 76 have also become obsolete. AN-32 will start retiring from the army after the year 2032 while IL-76 will serve for a few more years. Request for information for medium transport aircraft for replacement of AN-32 has also been issued by the Air Force.

Will purchase from Indian vendors only

Through RFI, Indian vendors have been asked what type of transport aircraft they can provide which will meet the needs of the Air Force. The Air Force will make this purchase from Indian vendors only. Medium transport aircraft should be transport with cargo carrying capacity of 18 to 30 tonnes. Like AN-32, it should be multi-role in which it will be used for carrying soldiers, carrying goods, dropping goods, evacuating the injured, combat free fall etc. However, the speed with which India is progressing in the field of aircraft production. It would not be wrong to say that in the coming days India will sell indigenous aircraft to the world.