<p>
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday cleared the acquisition of 56 C-295MW medium transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space, Spain, in a deal worth $2.5 billion (Rs 22,000 crore).</p>
<p>
The acquisition will be done under the &lsquo;Buy &amp; Make&rsquo; category of the Defence Procurement Procedure.</p>
<p>
Sixteen 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 signing of the contract, the defence ministry said.</p>
<p>
This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. All 56 aircraft will be installed with indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite. The project will give a boost to the aerospace ecosystem in India wherein several MSMEs spread over the country will be involved in manufacturing&nbsp; parts of the aircraft, the defence ministry statement said.</p>
<p>
C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the IAF, the government said, adding that it has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo.</p>
<p>
The Defence Ministry called it a &ldquo;unique initiative to strengthen indigenous capabilities&rdquo;. The fleet will replace the Avro aircraft of the Air Force, which are British-origin twin-engine turboprop, military transport and freighter with a 6-tonne freight capacity. It was inducted into the Indian Air Force in the early 1960s.</p>
<p>
The programme will provide major boost to the `Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan&rsquo; of the Government as it offers a unique opportunity for the Indian Private Sector to enter into technology intensive and highly competitive aviation Industry. The project will augment domestic aviation manufacturing resulting in reduced import dependence and expected increase in exports.</p>
<p>
Before completion of deliveries, &lsquo;D&rsquo; Level servicing facility (MRO) for C-295MW aircraft are scheduled to be set up in India. It is expected that this facility will act as a regional MRO hub for various variants of C-295 aircraft.&nbsp;</p>
The fifth edition of the historic Indo-Vietnam Joint Field Training Exercise, VINBAX-2024, successfully concluded its…
The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry…
Sylvie Bermann, President of the World Nuclear Exhibition expressed confidence in India's nuclear supply chain…
Joint Awami Action Committee core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir has condemned the attack of police…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in 31 Bilateral Meetings and informal interactions with global leaders…
India and Australia conducted the 11th edition of the Indian Air Force and Royal Australian…