Airbus, a significant player in European aviation, announced on Thursday that the Indian regulator had approved its C295 aircraft programme, making it the first foreign original equipment manufacturer to do so.
In September of last year, India and Airbus Defence and Space agreed to a nearly $21,000 crore deal for 56 C295 transport planes to replace the IAF’s outdated Avro-748 aircraft.
This project involves the first-ever production of military aircraft in India by a private company.
The Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance granted regulatory permission for the ambitious scheme (DGAQA).
According to the contract, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in “fly-away” condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, within four years. Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), an industrial partner of the two companies, will manufacture and assemble the remaining 40 aircraft in India.
According to a statement from the aerospace giant, the DGAQA, India’s regulatory body for aeronautical quality assurance, has approved the airbus Defence and Space Quality Management System (QMS) for the C295 aircraft.
The DGAQA has never before authorised a foreign aircraft manufacturer’s quality management system, according to the statement.
At a ceremony held on the fringes of DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Kajetan von Mentzingen, Head of Quality for Airbus Defence and Space, received the certificate of certification from Director General of DGAQA Sanjay Chawla.
This is an important initial step in the lengthy quality assurance roadmap for the C295 “Make in India” programme that Airbus and DGAQA have agreed upon.
This certification demonstrates the trust and confidence that DGAQA places in Airbus quality standards, Mentzingen said. “We have crossed a milestone for the C295 ‘Make in India’ programme.”
The foundation for successful aircraft manufacturing in India under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat policy, the official said. “It marks the beginning of a robust and comprehensive roadmap that Airbus has put in place for the C295 ‘Make in India’ programme.”
This certification is a component of the initiative to build 40 aircraft in India, which entails the full establishment of an entire industrial ecosystem, from part production through assembly, test, and qualification, to delivery, and finally to maintenance over the course of the aircraft’s entire career.
The C295 is a well-known superior aircraft used for logistic operations to places that current bigger aircraft cannot reach and for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers.
The aircraft can be utilised for casualty or medical evacuation as well as airdropping loads and paratroopers.
The aircraft is equipped to handle special missions, disaster relief operations, and maritime patrol responsibilities.
After the massive deal was completed last year, Airbus stated that the C295 programme would allow the company to collaborate with its industrial partners, including the Tatas and top public sector defence companies like Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, to bring its entire portfolio of world-class aircraft manufacturing and servicing to India.
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