The Ministry of Defence is expected to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) shortly for acquiring 15 maritime variants of the Airbus C-295 aircraft, following the Defence Acquisition Council’s (DAC) approval earlier this year for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. Under this approval—Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)—the Navy will receive nine C-295 aircraft configured for medium-range maritime reconnaissance, while the Coast Guard will acquire six C-295 multi-mission maritime aircraft.
“These Airbus C-295 medium-range aircraft will serve the Indian Navy’s maritime reconnaissance needs and will be equipped with sonobuoys, torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare, and anti-ship missiles for surface warfare roles, depending on mission requirements,” a senior Ministry official stated.
Once the contract is signed, a joint venture between the French firm Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. will manufacture the aircraft in India. The Indian Air Force has already contracted for 56 C-295 transport aircraft. The first 16 aircraft are currently being produced in Spain, while the remaining units will be assembled at Tata’s final assembly line in Vadodara, Gujarat.
This enhanced, weaponized variant of the C-295 is designed to significantly strengthen India’s maritime patrol capabilities. It will function as the medium-range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft for the Navy and the multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMMA) for the Coast Guard. These variants are tailored to meet operational requirements, providing a versatile solution combining surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities within a single airframe.
The induction of the C-295 aircraft is expected to fill a critical gap in the Indian Navy’s medium-range maritime surveillance capabilities. Currently, the Navy relies on Boeing P-8I aircraft for long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) and Dornier DO-228 aircraft for short-range patrols but needs an effective medium-range platform.
The C-295 aircraft will bridge this gap, equipped with advanced weaponry and configured for anti-submarine warfare with sonobuoys and lightweight torpedoes (TAL). Additionally, they can be armed with DRDO’s NASM-SR (Short-Range) and NASM-MR (Medium-Range) anti-ship missiles, enhancing their effectiveness in surface strike missions. This upgrade will significantly bolster the Navy’s fleet, enhancing its maritime patrol and defence capabilities across a range of mission profiles.
“The biggest missing link in the Indian Navy’s surveillance capabilities has been the absence of a medium-range aircraft that can efficiently operate beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and along Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) close to India‘s areas of interest in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),” noted Captain DK Sharma, former spokesperson for the Indian Navy. “Our existing assets, designed for different roles, were a mismatch for this requirement. The induction of this aircraft will not only strengthen our maritime domain awareness but also conserve the engine hours of our long-range assets,” he added.
As India’s maritime interests span the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the need for a robust, sustained reconnaissance presence has grown. The modified C-295, with its extended mission capabilities, will deliver real-time intelligence and targeting data, proving to be a critical asset for both the Indian Navy and Coast Guard in securing India’s maritime domain.
Ravi Shankar
