MoD Issues RFP for 15 Tata-Airbus C-295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft For Indian Navy and Coast Guard

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has officially issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Tata-Airbus joint venture for the supply of 15 C-295 maritime patrol aircraft, specifically for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.

This landmark proposal marks another step forward under the "Make in India" initiative and comes after receiving prior clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) earlier this year. These aircraft will be modified versions of the C-295 military transport plane, tailored for maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions.

As per the procurement plan, the Indian Navy will receive 9 aircraft in the Medium-Range Maritime Reconnaissance (MRMR) configuration, while the Coast Guard will get 6 aircraft in the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA) role. These aircraft will carry cutting-edge Indian-developed systems, such as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems, sonobuoys, and lightweight torpedoes. Notably, they will also be armed with the DRDO-developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR).

The C-295 fleet will play a key role in filling the capability gap between the long-range P-8I Poseidon aircraft and the smaller Dornier DO-228, creating a multi-layered aerial maritime surveillance network to guard India’s 7,516-kilometre coastline and vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Crucially, 12 out of the 15 aircraft will be assembled in India at the Tata-Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat, inaugurated in October 2024. This is India’s first private-sector military aircraft production facility, and the C-295 project will feature up to 78% indigenous content, with parts manufacturing, final assembly, testing, and future maintenance all happening within India.

The move is a significant step towards building a self-reliant aerospace ecosystem, expected to generate over 600 direct high-skill jobs and more than 6,000 indirect employment opportunities. It also solidifies the strategic collaboration between Tata and Airbus, aligned with the MoD's Strategic Partnership (SP) model, which promotes technology transfer and joint production.

This RFP follows the larger ongoing deal of 56 C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), some of which have already been delivered from Spain. The remaining are now being assembled domestically. The Navy and Coast Guard versions will leverage the same platform but with maritime mission enhancements developed with inputs from DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS).

Captain D.K. Sharma (Retd.), former Indian Navy spokesperson, emphasized the aircraft’s strategic impact, noting that it will “dramatically improve India’s maritime domain awareness” and allow for better deployment of larger assets like the P-8I. The aircraft’s flexibility will also support search and rescue, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, and maritime law enforcement operations.

There are already indications that this could be the beginning of a larger acquisition program, with a potential need for up to 75 additional C-295 aircraft across various wings of India’s armed and internal security forces.

With this RFP, India not only strengthens its coastal security but also reinforces its commitment to defence indigenisation, setting a strong foundation for a more self-reliant and strategically prepared future.