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to the heavier aircraft transport aircraft types
within the IAF. The C295MW will be able to
operate semi-prepared strips and has a rear
ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping
of troops & cargo. The aircraft can be used for
tactical transport of troops and the required
logistic supplies (water, food, ammunition, med- [ AIR SYSTEMS ]
ical supplies, and spare parts) from the main
operating base to forward bases and can also
airdrop paratroops and loads, with the use of
88in-width platforms and container delivery
system (CDS) A22 bundles.

Versatile Workhorse
The C295MW is a variant of the C295W and is
fitted with winglets, which offer increased per-
formance in all phases of flight. The C295W has
been the baseline configuration for all C295
models (transport and ISR) since 2014. The
winglets provide improved take-off perfor-
mance at hot and high airfields, deliver higher
cruise altitudes especially at high weights along
with reduced overall fuel consumption between
-3 per cent and -6 per cent which has increased
aircraft endurance. The C295W also features
new power generators and improved aircraft
general systems to meet current and future
airworthiness requirements. Airbus states
that C295W operators have successfully uti-
lised the aircraft over long deployments, some
exceeding two years with aircraft racking up
100 flight hours per month, in remote areas,
such as Chad, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The C295MW has 12.7 m / 41 ft 8 in long pres-
surised cabin that allows it to carry up to nine
tonnes of payload or up to 71 personnel. In
addition to being able to accommodate up to km/hr. The aircraft can be rapidly reconfigured to perform a wide
71 seats, it can also carry much more palletised range of missions such as personnel, troop and bulky/palletised
cargo (up to five 88 inch X 108 inch standard cargo transportation to casualty evacuation, communication and
HCU-6E pallets) with direct off-loading through logistic duties, search and rescue, surveillance and control, home-
its rear ramp door. The aircraft is powered by land security, or certified air-dropping.
two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turbo-
prop engines, which allow the aircraft to cruise Mission Capable
at a maximum cruise speed of 480 km/h at The C295 is available in several variants, which will also make it
altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. It can also stay attractive to other potential Indian operators such as the Navy and
in the air for as long as 13 hours. According to Coast Guard and even paramilitary forces. Airbus Defence and
Airbus, the C295’s STOL capability combined Space offers the C295W with its Fully Integrated Tactical System
with a strong landing gear allows it to operate (FITS), which integrates, controls and displays the mission sensors,
in the most austere locations with the worst enhancing mission awareness and facilitating decision making. The
conditions for take-off and landings. Chilean Navy operates an “Anti-Submarine Warfare” (ASW) version
of the C295, derived from its Surveillance and Maritime Patrol
The tactical military transport aircraft also has Aircraft (MPA) version. The Chilean Navy aircraft are equipped with
a light footprint allowing operations from short an in-house developed FITS tactical system that has been proven
(no longer than 670 m / 2,200 ft), or soft (CBR during MPA/ASW missions. It also has under-wing stations to carry
2) unprepared airstrips. The C295 also has weapons and other stores and represents a modern, risk-free and
outstanding low-level flight characteristics for much more efficient alternative compared to older generation mar-
tactical missions, flying at speeds down to 200 itime patrol aircraft with lower operating and maintenance costs.

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