Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation for the C295 aircraft manufacturing facility, the first aircraft manufacturing facility in the private sector in the nation, as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India programme in the defence industry.
On this occasion, Modi said that this is the government’s clear vision to make India ‘Aatmnirbhar’, especially in defence sector. “For this, we have taken many steps. The aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara is India’s giant leap towards becoming self-reliant in the aviation sector.”
The PM added that India is growing into a significant global manufacturing hub.
“Make in India, make for the globe. Transport aircraft will give strength to our forces, as well as a new eco-system will develop for the aircraft manufacturing sector. India’s aviation sector is rapidly growing. This a golden opportunity for the world to invest in India. A new saga of economic reforms is being written in India today,” he said.
In a joint effort between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space, Spain, the facility will be used to produce 40 C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The facility will be a crucial step in realising Aatmanirbharta in the defence industry and will also assist in maximising the potential of the sector's private players.
PM Modi also went to a display showing the advancements made in manufacturing and technology in the aerospace sector by Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said that the Tata Group would now be able to take aluminium ingots at one end of the value stream and turn them into an Airbus C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force with the establishment of the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara. As the Tata Group adopts the vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of being a true "Atmanirbhar," this is a historic occasion for both the company and the nation as a whole.
n this occasion, Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer said, “We are honoured to play a role in this historic moment for aerospace in India. Our Airbus teams are committed to supporting the modernisation of the Indian Air Force with the C295 programme, which will also contribute to the development of the private defence manufacturing sector in the country.”
He said that the C295 programme, which was developed in collaboration with the reputable Tata Group, is closely connected with the government of India's goal of creating a "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India).
It is noteworthy that India formally approved the purchase of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft in September 2021 to replace the Indian Air Force's (IAF) ageing AVRO fleet. The creation of a whole industrial ecosystem, from production through assembly, testing and qualification, to delivery and maintenance over the course of the aircraft's entire lifecycle, is a key component of this programme, which is the first "Make in India" aerospace initiative in the private sector.
This will be the first case in which an aircraft is produced entirely domestically in the private sector of India. More than 15,000 skilled direct and indirect jobs will be created across the aerospace ecosystem as a result of the programme, and over 125 suppliers will be certified in India in accordance with international quality standards. It will also help India develop a strong private industrial aerospace ecosystem.
The IAF moved up to become the 35th C295 operator globally. The programme has received 285 orders to date, more than 200 aircraft have been delivered, 38 operators from 34 countries, and 17 orders have been repeated. The C295 logged more than 500,000 flying hours in 2021.
The C295 is utilised for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers and for logistic operations to regions that are inaccessible to current heavier aircraft because of its demonstrated ability to operate from short or unprepared airstrips. It can be used to airdrop loads and paratroopers, as well as to evacuate casualties or treat them medically. Along with special missions, disaster response, and maritime patrol responsibilities, the aircraft is capable.
The most adaptable and effective tactical transport aircraft is the C295. Although it is robust and dependable, it is also incredibly versatile in terms of the range of tasks it can carry out. Under all weather, the C295 operates in multiple roles all over the world. It regularly conducts daytime and nighttime combat operations in all types of weather, including maritime and desert situations with exceptionally hot and cold temperatures. It is fully certified to do so.
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