What is the purpose of the C-295MW transport aircraft

Solution

The Indian Air Force received the first C-295MW transport aircraft from Airbus. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari formally received symbolic keys to the first aircraft at the Airbus facility in Seville, Spain. The 56 C-295 aircraft will replace the ageing Avro aircraft. Under the contract, 16 aircraft will come in fly-away condition from Seville while 40 will be manufactured by Airbus jointly with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL).  In September 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹22,000-crore deal with Airbus and Space S.A., Spain for procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft to replace the Avro aircraft in service with the IAF. C-295 aircraft deal is valued at around $2.5 billion, and it will significantly impact bilateral relations as well as economic ties between India and Spain.