IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

AIRBUS C295

10th May, 2023 Defence

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Context

  • The first C295 for India has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a significant milestone towards its delivery by the second half of 2023.

Background

  • India acquired 56 C295 aircraft in September 2021 to replace the (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet.
  • The first 16 aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain, and delivered to the customer in ‘fly-away’ condition.
  • The following 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.
  • The C295 Final Assembly Line being built in Gujarat is the first concrete, large-scale Make-in-India defence programme in the private sector that will unlock the industrial value chain of design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.

Significance

  • This programme will significantly contribute towards developing the indigenous capabilities of Indian companies for an 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat'.

Features

  • The CASA C-295 (now Airbus C295) is a medium tactical transport aircraft that was designed and initially manufactured by the Spanish aerospace company CASA.
  • Both manufacturing and final assembly of the C-295 is normally performed at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in San Pablo Airport, located in Seville, Spain.

Uses

  • Beyond its use as a tactical transporter, the C-295 is capable of performing a wide variety of missions effectively.
  • These included parachute and cargo dropping, electronic signals intelligence (ELINT), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and maritime patrol.

Usage Worldwide

  • The C-295 has been acquired by multiple nations including Spain, Egypt, Poland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal and others.
  • It has also participated in numerous international operations, including those in the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Chad.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following statements with reference to Airbus C295 is/are incorrect?

1. It is a medium tactical transport aircraft designed by Airbus.

2. India will receive all these aircrafts from Spain in ‘fly-away’ condition.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: 2

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/1st-airbus-c295-for-india-successfully-completes-maiden-flight-2376598-2023-05-09