The Ministry of Defence is preparing to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of 15 Airbus C-295 aircraft configured for maritime operations. This follows the Defence Acquisition Council's prior approval for these purchases under the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) framework. The planned acquisition includes nine C-295 aircraft for the Indian Navy, intended for medium-range maritime reconnaissance, and six for the Coast Guard, designated as multi-mission maritime aircraft.
The aircraft will be outfitted for diverse operational roles, including anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare. According to a Ministry official, they will be equipped with sonobuoys, torpedoes, and anti-ship missiles, depending on mission requirements.
Upon contract finalization, the aircraft will be produced domestically through a joint venture between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. The Indian Air Force is already acquiring 56 C-295 transport aircraft, with the first 16 units currently in production in Spain and the remaining scheduled for assembly at Tata’s new facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The C-295 variant for the Navy and Coast Guard will bridge a medium-range maritime surveillance gap. Currently, the Navy relies on Boeing P-8I aircraft for long-range missions and Dornier DO-228 aircraft for short-range patrols. The new C-295s will fulfill the intermediate requirement, covering operations beyond India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and along strategic Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
Captain DK Sharma, former spokesperson for the Indian Navy, noted the absence of a medium-range reconnaissance aircraft as a key limitation in the Navy's existing fleet, adding that the C-295s will enhance maritime awareness while conserving resources on longer-range assets.
The induction of these aircraft is expected to improve India’s surveillance capabilities across the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and other areas of interest in the Indian Ocean Region, supporting both surveillance and strike missions for maritime security.
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