India is edging closer to finalizing the acquisition of a maritime patrol variant of the Airbus C295 aircraft, with the country’s Defence Acquisition Council granting permission for the purchase.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD), on February 16, 2024, greenlit the procurement of fifteen Airbus Defence C295 maritime aircraft.
Pending approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the prospective order will encompass six Maritime Patrol Aircraft (C295MPA-W) for the Indian Navy and nine Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (C295MSA-W) for the Indian Coast Guard.
Upon contract signing, a collaboration between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. will oversee the manufacture of these aircraft within India.
Notably, the Indian Air Force had previously inked a deal for 56 C295 transport aircraft. While the first 16 are in production in Spain, the rest are slated for assembly in Tata’s facility in Vadodara, India.
The commencement of component production for these aircraft has already commenced at the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad, southern India. These components will then be transported to the Vadodara Final Assembly Line (FAL), anticipated to be operational by November 2024.
The inaugural ‘Make in India’ C295 is projected to roll out of the Vadodara FAL by September 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Indian aerospace sector. The final aircraft is anticipated to be delivered to the Indian Air Force by August 2031.
With 283 orders from 41 operators worldwide, the C295 stands as the foremost choice in its segment, renowned for its versatility. Capable of transporting up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, conducting airdrop missions, facilitating medical evacuations, and operating from short and unpaved runways, the C295 embodies a robust and adaptable platform for various missions.