NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to induct its inaugural C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft into its fleet today, marking a significant milestone at the Hindon Air Base.

This momentous occasion follows the recent arrival of the C-295 aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat, on September 20, having been formally handed over to the IAF in Seville, Spain.

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of Air Staff, gratefully accepted the first of 56 C-295 transport aircraft on September 13. This acquisition comes two years after India's agreement with Airbus Defence and Space, valued at Rs 21,935 crore, to replace its aging Avro-748 fleet.

The IAF enthusiastically tweeted, "The IAF's maiden C-295 MW aircraft touched down in Vadodara today. The official handover to the IAF will take place during a formal ceremony on September 25, 2023, at Air Force Station Hindon, presided over by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh."

Under the terms of the agreement, Airbus will deliver the initial 16 aircraft in a 'fly-away' condition, directly from its Seville assembly line, by 2025. Subsequently, Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) will undertake the manufacture and assembly of the remaining 40 aircraft in India, as part of a robust industrial partnership between the two entities.

Production of aircraft components is already underway at the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad, with these parts destined for the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara. This FAL is anticipated to commence operations by November 2024.

In a pivotal moment from last October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara manufacturing facility, marking the inception of India's first privately-driven consortium to produce military aircraft.

The IAF's decision to acquire the C-295 aircraft stems from the need to retire its aging Avro-748 planes, which have served for over six decades. The C-295, renowned for its superior capabilities, excels in tactical transport, accommodating up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers. Moreover, it supports logistics operations in remote and inaccessible locations, a feature lacking in heavier aircraft.

The aircraft's versatility extends to airdropping paratroops and cargo, facilitating casualty and medical evacuations, and undertaking special missions, disaster response, and maritime patrol duties.

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