C295W completes Indian flight trials programme

[sudhir007]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/c295w-completes-indian-flight-trials-programme-428406/

Airbus Defence & Space has moved a step closer to securing an Indian contract for 56 C295W medium transports, with in-country flight trials of the type having been completed.

“The C295W programme is progressing smoothly and we have successfully completed the field evaluation trial of the aircraft in India, as well as the maintenance evaluation,” the company confirms. While declining to provide specifics of the programme's current status, it adds: “The acquisition is progressing well, as per the DPP [defence procurement procedure].”

Several further steps need to be taken as part of India’s labyrinthine and notoriously time-consuming defence procurement system, before a formal contract can be signed. The Defence Acquisition Council – which is led by defence minister Manohar Parrikar – gave its go-ahead for the programme in May 2015, having deferred a decision six months earlier, and the effort to acquire the type has been under way since 2012.

Airbus Defence & Space

To replace the Indian air force's aged fleet of HS 748s, the C295W acquisition will procure 16 aircraft to be supplied directly in fly-away condition by Airbus Defence & Space, plus 40 to be assembled in India, in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), the designated Indian Production Agency.

India’s coastguard has also expressed interest in acquiring the C295W, and received separate briefings about the aircraft. “However, the coastguard requirement, if it materialises, does not currently form part of the aircraft that we propose together with Tata in the context of the Avro replacement,” Airbus Defence & Space has previously confirmed.

The C295W programme is a cornerstone of TASL’s defence manufacturing plans in India. “We hope this will act as an anchor for us to get the type of capability and skillset that can then attract many other programmes,” chief executive Sukaran Singh told FlightGlobal earlier this year. “This will really differentiate us from anyone else in India,” he added.

The baseline aircraft for India will be the new C295W, for which the Mexican navy was the launch customer.

 

[Nilgiri]

@PARIKRAMA @Abingdonboy

Your thoughts?

 

[PARIKRAMA]

It's a positive development but we need to take it further up and move forward to actually signing the contract to replace our ageing transport fleet.

Need some more steps for An32 replacement program as well.

 

[OrionHunter]

Need some more steps for An32 replacement program as well.

According to recent media reports in both India and Russia, the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) project to replace the An-32s has foundered on choice of powerplant and cost. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) signed a contract in 2012 for a twin-jet, high-wing, T-tail design. The IAF would take 45 with another 100 going to the Russian air force. UAC believes that the Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofan is the best solution, whereas HAL wants a new powerplant that includes Fadec.

So we've been sitting on our asses, undecided since 2012, for replacement of our AN-32s.

The ugrade work performed on 40 AN-32s that were upgraded in Ukraine before the crisis with Russia halted progress, included air collision avoidance system, ground proximity warning system, satellite navigation system, distance-measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters and new radar with two multi-functional indicators. Engineers from Antonov were sent to the IAF depot in Kanpur to oversee work on the remaining 65 An-32s. But they left midway through the effort, even as the IAF started working with private manufacturers for indigenization of components such as nuts, bolts, washers, pipelines, rubber seals unions, joints, harnesses, filters and electronic items.

So that's where the issue stands today.

 

[GuardianRED]

It's a positive development but we need to take it further up and move forward to actually signing the contract to replace our ageing transport fleet.

Need some more steps for An32 replacement program as well.

Would it make more sense to have additional C295s to replace the An32?

 

[sudhir007]

According to recent media reports in both India and Russia, the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) project to replace the An-32s has foundered on choice of powerplant and cost. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) signed a contract in 2012 for a twin-jet, high-wing, T-tail design. The IAF would take 45 with another 100 going to the Russian air force. UAC believes that the Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofan is the best solution, whereas HAL wants a new powerplant that includes Fadec.

So we've been sitting on our asses, undecided since 2012, for replacement of our AN-32s.

The ugrade work performed on 40 AN-32s that were upgraded in Ukraine before the crisis with Russia halted progress, included air collision avoidance system, ground proximity warning system, satellite navigation system, distance-measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters and new radar with two multi-functional indicators. Engineers from Antonov were sent to the IAF depot in Kanpur to oversee work on the remaining 65 An-32s. But they left midway through the effort, even as the IAF started working with private manufacturers for indigenization of components such as nuts, bolts, washers, pipelines, rubber seals unions, joints, harnesses, filters and electronic items.

So that's where the issue stands today.

Hi the payload carry capacity of the AN-32 is around 7-8 T and MTA is 17-18T how the category match and is it suitable or replacement of the AN

 

[Imran Khan]

ehhh again man . so all of the cn-295 bashing on pakistan in 2005-6 on forum was a mistake ?

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Would it make more sense to have additional C295s to replace the An32?

Yes surely. Beyond 56 immediately projection is around 75 meaning 19 more ... May be a follow on order will be there.

We might look for maritime role with C295s

With already AEW&C experience, the C295 with MII line and a good maritime radar, would work wonders and we won't need any other Maritime recon plane ..

And if we make say even another 50-70 more under MII in tranches to replace all ageing An32s. But that may come much later.


If C295 fails then we can try for USA based C130 XJ but that is a bit bigger surely and may be a bit more in cost. But capability wise also it will be a good force addition.

Either way if Its C295 Make in India properly then we should use this opportunity properly

 

[GURU DUTT]

can anybody tell me the diffrence between wieght carrying capacity and distance they could cover , fuel economy and price diffrence betweenAn32 & C295s and is there much price diffrence between CJ-130 and C295 ?... thanks

 

[GuardianRED]

Yes surely. Beyond 56 immediately projection is around 75 meaning 19 more ... May be a follow on order will be there.

We might look for maritime role with C295s
View attachment 325183

With already AEW&C experience, the C295 with MII line and a good maritime radar, would work wonders and we won't need any other Maritime recon plane ..

And if we make say even another 50-70 more under MII in tranches to replace all ageing An32s. But that may come much later.


If C295 fails then we can try for USA based C130 XJ but that is a bit bigger surely and may be a bit more in cost. But capability wise also it will be a good force addition.

Either way if Its C295 Make in India properly then we should use this opportunity properly

Atleast the Program is progressing! hopefully by the end of this year or before - it will be signed

 

[Nilgiri]

ehhh again man . so all of the cn-295 bashing on pakistan in 2005-6 on forum was a mistake ?

Way things are going, soon we will be F-16's biggest fans too

 

[Imran Khan]

Way things are going, soon we will be F-16's biggest fans too

yeah sir i will be happy to see them . its like you can read now j-10 threads pakistanis says its adding nothing in PAF . but when in future PAF will buy them these guys will become fan boys of j-10

problem is our fan boys have no choice but to always become fan what thieer forces have in hands

waiting for mirage-2000 from qatar so our guys become fan of m-2000
waiting for f-16 in IAF so this absolute useless fighter become avatar of many indian members here
also waiting for cn-295 in IAF so its become potent transport (i still remember indians claim here that IAF single il-76 can carry more then all 4 PAF cn-235 )

c-130 is already hot cake in both sides of border after 45 years of bashing

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

Navy , Coast Guard and Air force requirements should be clubbed together and a baseline model should be selected which can be twitched according to various needs.

This would save costs , time and "Life".

@PARIKRAMA
C295Ws will do replace the AN32RE fleet partially , but it will be either AN178 or IL214 which will replace it mostly. I really don't see the excuse of type of Engine controls big enough to stall the project.

In my opinion its HAL screwing it , just wait till (IF) Reliance actually puts up its plans with either Antonov or Dassault for building a similar aircraft which could fulfill the needs , HAL would jump into action and IL214 will again be " the best option ".

Competition is all which India needs.

 

[Bheemsen]

India should also look to acquire Gunship version of these AC-295 , at least 20 such gunships will do wonders in actual combat.

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

India should also look to acquire Gunship version of these AC-295 , at least 20 such gunships will do wonders in actual combat.

AC130s have never flown into an area with an active Air force.

And India doesn't have that comfort. Will be useless.