The first C295 tactical transport aircraft for India has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a significant milestone towards its delivery by the second half of 2023.
India acquired 56 C295 aircraft in September 2021 to replace the (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet. The first 16 aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain, and delivered to the customer in ‘fly-away’ condition. The following 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.
This programme will significantly contribute to developing India’s military industrial ecosystem from the manufacturing to assembly, testing, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.
The C-295 programme comprises a total of 281 orders from 39 operators, making it an unmatched aircraft in its weight and mission class.
About C295 Aircraft
The CASA C-295 (now Airbus C295) is a medium tactical transport aircraft that was designed and initially manufactured by the Spanish aerospace company CASA.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 73 troops / 48 paratroops / 12 stretcher intensive care medevac / 27 stretcher medevac with 4 medical attendants
Maximum payload: 7,050 kg (15,543 lb) normal
9,250 kg (20,393 lb) overload
Length: 24.46 m (80 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 25.81 m (84 ft 8 in)
Height: 8.66 m (28 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 59 m2 (640 sq ft)
Airfoil: NACA 65-218[109]
Max takeoff weight: 21,000 kg (46,297 lb) normal
23,200 kg (51,147 lb) overload
Maximum landing weight: 20,700 kg (45,636 lb) normal
23,200 kg (51,147 lb) overload
Maximum zero-fuel weight: 18,500 kg (40,786 lb) normal
20,700 kg (45,636 lb) overload
Fuel capacity: 7,650 L (2,020 US gal; 1,680 imp gal) with optional in-flight refuelling probe
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, 1,972 kW (2,644 hp) each for take-off (normal)
2,177 kW (2,919 hp) with APR
Propellers: 6-bladed Hamilton Sundstrand HS-568F-5, 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in) diameter composite propellers with auto-feathering and synchro-phasing
Performance
Cruise speed: 482 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at optimum altitude
Range: 1,555 km (966 mi, 840 nmi) normal payload, ISA, 45 minutes reserve at 460 m (1,509 ft)
1,277 km (793 mi; 690 nmi) max overload payload
4,587 km (2,850 mi; 2,477 nmi) normal MTOW, max fuel with 2,940 kg (6,482 lb) payload
2,148 km (1,335 mi; 1,160 nmi) overload MTOW, max fuel with 8,000 kg (17,637 lb) payload
Ferry range: 5,000 km (3,100 mi, 2,700 nmi)
Service ceiling: 4,125 m (13,533 ft) on one engine
Absolute ceiling: 9,145 m (30,003 ft)
g limits: +2.53 (normal MTOW)
+2.25 (overload MTOW)
Time to altitude: to optimum cruising altitude 12 minutes
Power/mass: 0.188 kW/kg (0.114 hp/lb) normal
0.17 kW/kg (0.10 hp/lb) overload
Take-off run: 844 m (2,769 ft) Sea level, ISA
934 m (3,064 ft) Sea level, ISA + 20
Take-off distance to 15 m (49 ft): 1,025 m (3,363 ft) Sea level, ISA
1,103 m (3,619 ft) Sea level, ISA + 20
Landing run: 420 m (1,378 ft)
Landing distance from 15 m (49 ft): 729 m (2,392 ft)
Armament
Hardpoints: six (optional: three under each wing) with a capacity of inboard pylons 800 kg (1,764 lb); centre pylons 500 kg (1,102 lb); outboard pylons 300 kg (661 lb)
Avionics
Honeywell RDR-1400C weather radar
IFR instrumentation, comms and FMS as specified by customers
