Led by the consortium of the TATA Advanced Systems Ltd, the partnership engenders the establishment of the full-fledged industrial ecosystem for C-295MW defence Aircraft manufacturing. With 30 per cent of the military equipment and resources from Indian Partners, the progressive step will be the first full-spectrum ‘Make In India’ Aerospace Program in the Private sector.
For many years, ‘Make In India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in Defence Aircraft Manufacturing have been emphasized to the paramount standards, but mostly in the form of establishment of Defence Research Facilities and other government empowered R&D units. But now, realizing that the Private Sector has the vital capability of strengthening India’s vision of attaining ‘Atmanirbhar Defence Manufacturing’, the TATA-Airbus Manufacturing partnership is the first of its kind Military Aircraft Manufacturing in India which is under technology transfer by the private sector.
Following the 22,000 crore contract signed between the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Airbus Defence & Space S. A., Spain, the Manufacturing dream to replace the Indian 56 Avro Aircraft with the leading edge C-295 MW Transport Aircraft is likely to come true at Dholera, a Special Investment Region in Gujarat. Airbus has targeted to manufacture around 56 C- 40 C-295MW military transport in India in partnership with the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) under the contract with MoD, which was signed in September 2021.
The manufacturing facility which has been planned to be set up at Dholera will be equipped with the production facility for the entire lifecycle of the aircraft, from manufacturing to assembly and then testing to delivery. Dholera is being developed as a prominent center on the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, about 100 km southwest of Ahmedabad.
Terming the deal as a big moment for Make In India Agenda, Sukaran Singh, Managing Director & CEO, TASL, said, “This is the moment of pride for the TATAs and a milestone for the Manufacturing ecosystem of the Indian Defence and Military Industries.” He also added, “For the first time, an Indian Private Company will hold the hands of aircraft manufacturing in India. This showcases TASL’s capability as a defence manufacturer to bring globally complex and competitive platforms to India.
Along with 5 standard pallets and 24 healthcare units, the C-295 aircraft will replace the aging Avro-748 Aircraft of the Indian Air force and bring revolutions in various missions in disaster relief and maritime patrol duties, and medical evacuation (Medevac). Also, the C-295 aircraft, with 5 to 10-tonne capacity will serve the Indian Defence sector with tactical transport potential of transporting up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers. The aircraft will facilitate the logistics operation to locations that are not easily accessible.
India’s Defence & Military Manufacturing: On a global Push
Notably, the project has been approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Under the project, a 1426 acre land in Navagam Village has been reserved for the Dholera Airport, which has been declared as an ‘Early Bird Project’ by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and Government of Gujarat. In addition to this, Dholera Airport will have two runways of 4,000 meters and 2910 meters respectively which would be essential for the Flight-Testing Facility for the Airbus-Tata Manufacturing unit.
“The C295MW programme will provide the Indian Air Force with a proven platform, an aircraft that is operating globally and has booked more than 500,000 flight hours in service in all kind of environments,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, HO, Military Aircraft, Airbus.
Being a centerpiece for the Aviation Zone and MRO Hub, which is planned adjacent to the Greenfield International Airport, there is also a provision of the establishment of Aviation Academy, Flight Training Institute, and MRO facilities for Airframes, Engines and C&D checks.
Speaking on India’s role in defence manufacturing, Michael Schoellhorn, CEO, Airbus Defence & Space said, “The C295 has proven again as the segment leader, and with the addition of India as a new operator, the type will enlarge its footprint even more, not only on the operational aspects but on its own industrial and technological development”
The Global Contract for ‘Make In India’
As per the resources, there has been a Buy and Make Global Contract with Airbus, under which the first fleet of the manufactured aircraft will include 16 C-295MW planes. They will be delivered in a fly-way condition from the Airbus Assembly line in Seville, Spain in the next four years. While the remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured, assembled, and tested at the Indian assembly line.
With the target of delivering the planes in 10 years, the C-295MW aircraft is also expected to be equipped with the electronic warfare suits which will be developed indigenously in India. The contract has been foretold to create around 15, 000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs during the 10 years of its execution.
As per the statement shared from Airbus and TASL in a joint statement, the C-295MW program will showcase the Airbus’s complete bouquet of world-class aircraft manufacturing and servicing to India in collaboration with their Industrial Partners including the TATA Group. Also, it will bring ahead the joint efforts of both companies with the leading defence public sector units such as Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, apart from the private MSMEs.
Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, TATA Group congratulated TASL and Indian Defence Ministry and said that the state-of-art manufacturing of the aircraft will boost the Make In India and empower India’s domestic supply of Military Aircraft at international standards. As incessant efforts by the TATA Group to strengthen the Indian Defence and Military Manufacturing, the collaborative program opens up the doors for private sectors, thereby putting end to the monopoly of the public sector over defence manufacturing.
