IAF's First C-295 Aircraft Has Been Spotted In Malta, Heading Home

The first of the Indian Air Force [IAF] C-295 Aircraft is making it's way to India. The Airbus subsidiary EADS CASA handed over this CA-7101 airframe 5 days ago, on Sept. 13, '23. This photograph was captured when it landed yesterday, at the Malta International Airport for refueling & replenishment. The flight is being operated by a mixed crew consisting of IAF personnel & Airbus pilots.

via  Redeemer Saliba Photography 

The IAF would be inducting 56 of these aircraft into the fleet. They would help alleviate India's medium-haul logistics woes. The current platform performing this role, the Soviet-origin An-32 is heading towards obsolescence &, as Russian weapon systems go, also marred by poor availability.

As Airbus states,

"With 283 orders from 41 operators, the C295 is the undisputed leader in its segment and stands out for its versatility. It can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, airdrop cargo, be used for medical evacuation and take off and land in short and unpaved runways."

The deal would see 40 of these aircraft being assembled in India by the Tata Advanced Systems Limited [TASL]. A milestone for the Indian private sector Aircraft industry.

via PlaneSpotters

Godspeed

Also Read:  This Tiny Aircraft Was India’s 1st All-Composite Bird Built In The Country

Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team At The Dubai Airshow

The Indian Air Force's air display team performing at the Dubai Air Show, last year.

This Neat Illustration Depicts The LCA Tejas Aircraft’s Widely Diverse Weapon Loadout

The Sanskrit saying, 'Big Thing Comes In Small Packages' or, as the Norwegians like to say, 'छोटे पैक में बड़ा धमाका', could well have been the design brief for the Light Combat Aircraft [LCA] Tejas.

46 Angry MiG-23 Aircraft Set To Make Their Bollywood Debut

This brief 3 seconds clip shows a CGI formation of MiG-23 fighters on a strike mission.

Sukhoi Su-30 Of The IAF & Other Air Forces - Recent Developments

Putin's ongoing, month-long '2-Day' invasion of Ukraine has thrown a spanner into upkeep of the Indian Air Force [IAF] fleet of Soviet/Russian Aircraft. With a pivot in Russian priorities, coupled with the imposed Western sanctions, there is a genuine growing concern among Indian planners that the OEM support henceforth would be unreliable.

For It's Project 650 Anti-Radiation Missile, DRDO Is Looking At India Inc. To Join Cause

For The Past 1 Week, This Indian Air Force Aircraft Has Remained In Portugal

On February 14, last week, an Indian Air Force [IAF] Embraer aircraft landed in Portugal. Since then, it has stayed there.

The Ghatak UCAV Takes Shape In India, As ADE Sets Eyes On Building Full-scale Prototype

High On Confidence, DRDO Puts Into Play Production Plans Of It's Abhyas Aerial Target

Circa 1986, An Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 & Il-76 Aircraft Landed In Greece [Photograph Of the Day]

More Firepower Per Manpower, IAF Garud Commandos Will Now Clip High-Capacity Drum Magazines To Their Assault Rifles

With This VR System, The Indian Air Force Signals Intent To Get Real With Virtual

Bravest Of Them All - Param Vir Chakra Awardees - Their Stories

More DASH-IV Helmets Arriving For LCA Tejas Flyers, IAF Trialing Headgears For Jaguar Pilots

This Heavily Modded B777-300ER, India's Most Secure Transport Aircraft, Takes-Off Into The Night

French-origin IAF Mirage 2000H Aircraft Tanks Up From It's Russian IL-78 Refueller [Photographs Of The Day]

Bolstering Firepower, 5 Of These 13 Rafale Aircraft Will Join The IAF Fleet This Month [Tracking Tail Numbers]

Watching These IAF HF-24 Marut Fighters Taxiing & Taking To The Air Is A Sight Just As Contemporary

Some Mesmerizing Visuals Of IAF Surya Kiran Flights To Sooth The Senses

IAF Guns The World's Largest Helicopter, It's Mi-26, To The Top