India to procure 56 transport aircraft, 40 to be manufactured locally

Aircraft will be installed with indigenous electronic warfare suite, says Modi government

The Indian government on Wednesday approved the procurement of 56 C-295 MW transport aircraft for Indian Air Force from a Spain-based private company, Times Now reported.

"This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company," the report added.

Of 56, the report stated, 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition from Spain within 48 months of signing of the contract and 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India by TATA Consortium within ten years of the deal.

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The aircraft will be installed with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, an official statement was quoted in the report as saying.

C-295 MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of IAF. The aircraft has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo.

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The project will give a boost to the aerospace ecosystem in India wherein several MSMEs spread over the country will be involved in the manufacturing of parts of the aircraft, it added.

A large number of detail parts, sub-assemblies and major component assemblies of aerostructure are scheduled to be manufactured in India, the report further said.

(The story originally appeared in Times Now)