The Indian Defence Ministry has approved a proposal to procure nine maritime surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy and six maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard.
The proposed acquisition involves the construction of 15 maritime patrol aircraft, which will be based on C-295 transport aircraft that are being manufactured in India in a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus.
Notably, this move aligns with the Indian Government’s “Make in India” initiative, aiming to enhance indigenous defence production capabilities while meeting the country’s security needs.
The estimated value of these projects stands at a whopping Rs 29,000 Crores.
The transport aircraft would be equipped with the required radars and sensors and turned into a maritime patrol plane by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS).
Noteworthy, these new additions to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard fleets are expected to enhance surveillance, reconnaissance, and patrol capabilities.
Worth mentioning that the Indian Air Force (IAF) recently inducted the first C-295 transport aircraft manufactured in Spain.
While the first 16 will come from Spain in fly-away condition, the remaining 40 will be produced in India at a Tata facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The latest approval to enhance the Navy and Coast Guard surveillance capabilities will take the Tata Airbus order book to 71 from the existing 56.
Source: https://aninews.in/
