How The Aviation Ecosystem Will Take Flight With C-295s

Source: The post is based on the article “How The Aviation Ecosystem Will Take Flight With C-295s” published in The Times of India on 31^st October 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Relevance: About the C-295 manufacturing facility and its benefits.

News: Recently, the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone for the Tata consortium’s C-295 manufacturing facility.

What are the potential applications of C-295 aircraft?

The aircraft is contemporary in design, technology and systems and has widespread usage in 12 countries.

Military applications: It is already certified and operational in numerous roles like Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), maritime patrol, aerial refuelling, search and rescue (SAR), and even as a water bomber.

It has a load capacity of up to nine tonnes, it can carry up to 71 passengers or 44 paratroopers or 24 stretchers for medical evacuations

Civilian applications: Beyond military potential across the board, the aircraft is certified for civil applications.

The aircraft’s unique capability to connect destinations which are tough to service or reachable only through semi-prepared surfaces and short runaways. This can help in both passenger and load-carrying tasks.

What is the significance of the C-295 manufacturing facility in India?

First of a kind initiative: This is a) The first large-scale project given directly to the private sector, b) C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing capability is being set up in the country for the first time, thereby bridging a critical gap in indigenous aircraft manufacturing.

Host of benefits to IAF: C-295’s versatility would provide IAF with an immensely powerful tactical transport capability. By the next decade, this fleet would become the backbone of the IAF’s entire tactical transport operations. Apart from the present 40 orders, additional requirements will also emerge from the IAF towards future acquisitions/replacements in this category.

Further, the navy and coast guard have already indicated interest towards their requirements.

Boon for the private and MSME sector: The project will involve the creation of production infrastructure with transfer of technology from Airbus. The resulting manufacturing supply chain will spread from Tata to a host of MSMEs.

As per the data released, about 125 MSMEs across the country will be involved in the supply chain. Overall, the initial order would result in substantial production set-up in the country.

The contract stipulates the setting up of a D-Level servicing facility by 2031, and this maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) capability will itself be a boon for the private sector with a long-term commitment to efficient and cost-effective maintenance support for IAF.

How India can move ahead with the C-295 manufacturing facility?

1) India should utilise this capability and start targeting MROs of aircraft in friendly countries, 2) India should try to get export orders from friendly countries, 3) India should develop indigenous mission computers and own operational software to support indigenous products and R&D and permit rapid modernisation.