By India Blooms News Service Oct 30, 2022
Vadodara/UNI: In a major step towards domestic aviation manufacturing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone of a transport aircraft manufacturing project for the Indian Air Force here on Sunday.
This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company.
The Cabinet Committee on Security, in its meeting held on Sept 8 last year, had approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from M/s Airbus Defence and Space SA Spain.
Thereafter, Defence Ministry signed a contract with M/s Airbus Defence and Space SA for the acquisition of the aircraft with associated equipment.
As part of the contract, 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition and 40 will be manufactured in India by the Indian Aircraft Contractor, TATA Consortium of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) led by TASL, said Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar.
The total cost of the project is Rs 21,935 crore. The aircraft can be used for civilian purposes as well.
The first 16 fly-away aircraft are scheduled to be received between September 2023 and August 2025.
The first Made in India aircraft is expected in September 2026.
The C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of IAF.
It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features.
The aircraft will strengthen the logistic capabilities of the IAF.
The project offers a unique opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter into the technology-intensive and highly competitive aviation industry, said Defence Ministry.
It will augment domestic aviation manufacturing resulting in reduced import dependence and an expected increase in exports.
Also, 96% of the total man-hour work per aircraft that Airbus employs at its manufacturing facility in Spain will be undertaken in India by the TATA Consortium.
Manufacturing of over 13,400 Detail Parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all the seven Major Component Assemblies will be undertaken in India, along with tools, jigs and testers.
Various systems such as engines, landing gear, avionics, EW suite etc will be provided by Airbus Defence and Space and integrated into the aircraft by the TATA Consortium.
The aircraft will be tested as an integrated system by the TATA Consortium.
The aircraft will be flight tested and delivered through a Delivery Centre at the TATA Consortium facility.
All 56 aircraft will be fitted with the indigenous Electronic Warfare suite of Indian DPSUs Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.
After the completion of the delivery of 56 aircraft to IAF, M/s Airbus Defence and Space will be allowed to sell the aircraft manufactured in India to civil operators and export to countries which are cleared by the Government of India.
The TATA Consortium has identified more than 125 in-country MSME suppliers spread over seven states.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel will be among those who will attend the function.