Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  January 4, 2017, 7:35 am India is likely to sign a contract with Airbus Defence and Space for 56   C295 military transports within six months, according to the country's retiring chief of the air staff, Arup Raha. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Defence has cleared the separate acquisition of six   C295 s for an Indian Coast Guard requirement. Both orders will be delivered by the Tata-Airbus partnership that is India’s first-ever private sector aircraft development enterprise. At his end-of-tenure press conference on December 23, Raha told   AIN   that the evaluation of the   C295   bid for the   IAF   is complete and contract negotiations would start soon. “Since benchmarking and other issues [of the aircraft] are known to us, the process will not take very long, especially with a proactive defense minister where things get sorted out faster than they did in the past,” he said. He added that, g...

Please credit aerospacediary Neelam Mathews Apr 29, 2016 Even as global firms battle to gain attention of India for the second line of fighters, Dirk Hoke  CEO of Airbus Defence and Space (DS) made his company's focus clear by making a visit to Delhi this week to make an offer to design, develop, manufacture and export the Advanced Medium Combat  Aircraft (AMCA).  The AMCA offer aerospacediary learns, comes with a rider: Airbus will only be associated with the project in a 50:50 joint venture since decisions tend to get overridden by Indian counterparts. Discussions are likely to get stuck if HAL insists on Airbus reimbursing it for the cost of the LCA development. In which case, Airbus is likely to demand cost of transfer of technology. Another future Make in India project sunk before floated!? Hoke took over his position from April 1 this year, and was making no bones in the aggressive role the company wants to play. Airbus is believed to have focusse...

By  Neelam Mathews , March 15, 2016 India’s HAL builds Do 228s under license by Germany’s Ruag, mainly for the Indian military. It also recently finished the first of four Do 228 subassemblies for which Ruag issued an export order some four months ago. (Photo: HAL) India's Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) has assumed the mantle of responsibility for designing a regional transport aircraft ( RTA ) after nine years of failed attempts by Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratory ( NAL ).  HAL  has released a request for information ( RFI ) for collaboration with another airframer to build a 50- to 80-seat “medium-sized twin turbofan/turboprop” in India. The  RFI  calls for responses by April 11. Plans call for the first prototype to take off in five years. The project would cost approximately $1 billion for three prototypes and certification. “We are looking to the government for support and have submitted a proposal,” said  HAL  chairm...

Neelam Mathews Jan 2, 2013 Airbus Military has begun flight-testing a modification to add winglets to the C295 medium transport and surveillance aircraft – one of a series of product developments underway on the market-leading type. The winglets, which are short extensions to the wingtips of the aircraft, have the potential to improve performance in the take-off, climb and cruise phases of flight by increasing the lift-drag ratio. Possible in-service benefits include improved hot and high runway performance, increased range and endurance, and reduced operating costs. First flight of the wingletted aircraft took place with complete success at Airbus Military’s Seville facility in Spain on 21 December. Data from that flight is being analysed and will be added to data from future flights, providing the basis for a decision on whether or not to incorporate winglets into the C295 design. 

Neelam Mathews Nov 10, 2012 Airbus Military Statement Airbus Military was informed at the end of this afternoon of an accident of a C295 aircraft of the Algerian Air Force in the area of Lozere in the South of France which occurred around 15h45 hours this afternoon (Nov 9). The aircraft was on its way from Paris, France, to Algeria. There is no further information available at this stage.It has been confirmed that there were 6 people on board. Airbus Military will send a Go Team to the site of the accident to help clarify the circumstances of this accident. The thoughts of the company and its employees are with those affected by this accident.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews May 21, 2012 The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) has signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of eight C295 aircraft, five of them configured as tactical transports and three as maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). They will be delivered from next year. As well as upgrading the tactical transport capability of the RAFO in hot and dusty conditions, the aircraft will enhance Oman´s ability to patrol its territorial waters and to conduct missions against piracy, illegal immigration and smuggling. Oman becomes the first country of the Gulf Cooperation Council to order the C295. It is also the fourth customer to order the C295 in the MENA region and the first in the area to order the C295 for maritime patrol operations. Two Airbus Military CN235 aircraft are already operated by the Royal Oman Police. “We are very proud of this new contract with Oman which demonstrates the satisfaction of our customer with...

March 1, 2012 Airbus Military has signed a firm contract with Kazspetsexport, a State Company belonging to the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, to supply two C295 military transport aircraft plus the related service support package for spare parts and ground support equipment. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Forces of Kazakhstan in support of their transport missions throughout the nation´s vast territory.  Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed for a further six C295 aircraft, for which separate firm contracts will be signed progressively over the next few years. The first two aircraft will be delivered by April 2013 and for the remaining six aircraft a delivery schedule will be defined over the following years.  Under the terms of the MOU Airbus Military will support the Ministry of Defense over the period of delivery in transferring the required technological know-how in supporting the aircraft with the objective that the Mini...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 23, 2011 The Egyptian Air Force has taken delivery of its first Airbus Military C295. The aircraft in military transport configuration is part of a three aircraft order placed by the EAF in October 2010. The other two aircraft are to be delivered during the last quarter of 2011. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also include the smaller C212 and CN235 platforms. The C295 was selected for its versatility and adaptability, especially in desert areas, its ease of maintenance and low life cycle cost, as well as its operational capabilities. “This milestone represents the birth of a strong Program between Airbus Military and the Egyptian Air Force”, said General Yousry Abd El Hamid, Chief of Armament Department of the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. The C295 is configured with standard equipment as well as the Cargo Handling and, Aerial Delivery system (CHADS). It can also be equipped for paratrooping an...