Atmanirbharta in Transport Aircraft Manufacturing

NEW DELHI. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat on October 30, 2022.

- GP CAPT DR.) RK NARANG VM RETD)

The C-295 deal is the second deal after the transport aircraft manufacturing deal of HS-748 Avro in 1959. It is also expected to create an ecosystem for transport aircraft manufacturing. These aircraft are likely to be employed in civil applications in due course.

India becoming 'Atmanirbhar' self reliant - and a 'developed nation in Amrit Kaal' a- Golden Period - are the two important pillars that would act as templates for measuring the trajectory of Indian aviation manufacturing industry. Airbus Defence and Space S.A, Spain collaborated with Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL), a private sector company, to manufacture these aircraft in India under the Make in India policy. The deal worth Rs 21,935 crore RK MARANG involves supply of 16 aircraft in flyaway conditions while the remaining 40 aircraft would be manufactured in India.

However, there is no known plan and timeline yet for the development of its critical systems, sub-systems, payloads, etc.

Then, how would this deal fill the gaps in India's transport aircraft manufacturing technology and capability? But the following questions should help in understanding the contribution of the C-295 deal in making India Atmanribhar in transport aircraft manufacturing :

a. What was the HS-748 Avro deal and why did India have to go for C-295 manufacturing deal 63 years later?

b. Does India have a roadmap and who has the ownership for building its transport aircraft manufacturing capacity? 

c. Why leadership, ownership & a roadmap are important for India becoming Atmanirbhar in aviation manufacturing?

HS-748: INDIA'S FIRST TOT FOR SELF-RELIANCE