Airbus And Tata Team Up To Bid For Indian Aircraft Deal

Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) have submitted a bid to replace the Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force fleet with the Airbus C295 medium transport, at a cost of USD 2 billion.

This was after a detailed industrial assessment and evaluation of the Indian private aerospace sector by Airbus Defence and Space, which came to a finish selecting Tata Advanced Systems as the Indian Production Agency (IPA) exclusive partner for this programme.

A total of 56 Avro aircrafts are to be replaced. In the event of contract award, Airbus Defence and Space will supply the first 16 aircrafts, ready to fly from its own final assembly line.

The 40 aircrafts will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems in India. It will include undertaking structural assembly, final aircraft assembly, systems integration and testing, and management.

The current aircrafts are Avro planes, made by the British aircraft company, Avro, which was founded in the year 1910.

Domingo Ureña Raso, the Executive Vice President Military Aircraft, Airbus Defence and Space, said: "We firmly believe that, in the C295, we have clearly the best aircraft to replace the IAF Avro fleet and, in Tata Advanced Systems, we have secured the cream of the Indian private aerospace sector as our partner for this project."

"The C295 is a superbly reliable and tough aircraft with outstanding economics which is proven in the most difficult operating conditions all over the world.

"It has already been ordered by 19 countries, many of which have placed repeat orders. And just this year it has dominated the market with orders for no fewer than 20 aircraft from five countries."

Ramadorai, the Chairman for Tata Advanced Systems, said, "We are extremely pleased to announce our partnership with Airbus Defence and Space for the Avro replacement programme for the Indian Air Force. It is a landmark for the development of aircraft manufacturing capability in India, now that Tata Advanced Systems is poised to take this step toward building entire aircraft in India."

"The selection of Tata Advanced Systems by Airbus demonstrates the confidence that has been built in our ability to undertake this complex programme", he said.