C295 AIRCRAFT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech)

Context: Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) took delivery of the initial C295 aircraft out of the 56 slated to replace its ageing Avro-748 fleet, directly from the Airbus production site in Seville, Spain.

C295 Aircraft

• About: It is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
• Built by: Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation.
• Capacity: 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology.

oIt is robust and reliable but also highly versatile in terms of the number of different missions it can perform.

• Features: The aircraft, with a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, can carry out multi-role operations under all weather conditions.
• Replacement: Indian Air Force’s ageing fleet of Avro-748 planes