India finally orders new medium-lift transports
India will order 56 C295W transport aircraft, most of which will be assembled locally. (Airbus)
At long last, the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security – the country’s final decision-making body relating to military expenditure – has approved the procurement of 56 Airbus C295W medium-lift transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
They will replace a geriatric fleet of more than 50 HS748 Avro aircraft.
No monetary figure was publicised by the government, for the trilateral Airbus-Tata Group-IAF deal is yet to be signed. However, it is expected to be in the order of $2.5 billion.
According to a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau on 8 September, the first 16 aircraft will
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
BAE Systems reveals new GCAP demonstrator design with plans to fly by 2027
A key part in the trinational Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), this is the first crewed supersonic aircraft demonstrator to be built and developed in the UK in more than 40 years.
-
Kratos Defense makes European CCA push with Airbus partnership
Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie will be equipped with an Airbus-made mission system to be offered as a ‘European’ collaborative combat aircraft option to the German Air Force.
-
Anduril’s Barracuda-100M completes latest successful test flights
The munitions variant of the Barrauda-100 autonomous air vehicle is being tested for the US Army’s High-Speed Manoeuvrable Missile (HSMM) testbed programme, with further flight tests expected in 2026.
-
“Gloves are off” as US Defense Secretary memo calls for sweeping drone procurement reform
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has promised to usher in a new era of “military drone dominance”.
-
Norway cleared for possible $2.6 billion HH-60W helicopter FMS
The possible sale for nine HH-60W by the US government could make Norway the first Foreign Military Sale customer for the rescue and combat helicopter and add to the country’s ongoing acquisition of Sikorsky-made helicopters.
-
Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane
The programme first began in 2023 with Bell and Boeing’s concepts progressing to Phase 1B, in which testing has been carried out over the last year.