The Indian Air Force has inaugurated the Full Motion Simulator (FMS) for the C-295 transport aircraft. The new facility was inaugurated at the Air Force Station in Agra by Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command. The simulator enables pilots to train in a near-realistic environment by simulating various missions and scenarios.
The simulator will train pilots to carry out any tasking, such as tactical airlifts, paradrops, medical evacuation and disaster relief in any climatic condition, both by day and night. The simulator can also be used to practice emergency drills that will help the pilots react better, thus enhancing flight safety.
Simulators are also an economical means of training pilots, as the airframe’s life is not chipped away, there is also the added element of fuel savings that may run into millions of rupees.
The Indian Air Force had ordered a total of 56 C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus in 2021 to replace the HS-748 aircraft in its service. Of the 56 aircraft ordered, 16 are to be delivered by Airbus while the remaining 40 are to be built in India. Airbus has already delivered six airframes to the Indian Air Force.
Earlier this year, the government cleared Medium-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft (MRMRA) for the Indian Navy and six Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA) for the Coast Guard. These aircraft are to be based on the C-295 airframe. It has been reported that the air force may replace some An-32s with the C-295.
Just last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata-Airbus facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. Over 13,000 parts and 7,600 sub-assemblies for the aircraft will be manufactured in India, this endeavour will involve over 125 MSMEs.
The multirole C-295 aircraft can carry up to nine tons of payload, including 71 soldiers, with a short take-off and land capability from semi-prepared surfaces in hilly terrain. It will boost the Indian Air Force’s tactical airlift capability along the China border.
Team Bharatshakti
