NewsGate Press Network

Coinciding with the first of its kind drone exhibition aptly titled as Bharat Drone Shakti 2023, the Indian Air Force formally inducted its newest transport aircraft the Airbus C-295.

The drone exhibition cum induction ceremony took place at Hindan Air Force base just outside New Delhi area on Monday the 25th of September 2023.

This medium lift tactical aircraft, which is capable of taking off and landing from unprepared landing grounds, will replace ageing fleet of the HS-748  – the Avro aircrafts.

While the first 16 of the 56 contracted aircraft will be delivered to the IAF in a ‘fly-away’ condition by the Airbus, the remaining 40 would be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited at their facility in Vadodara.

The first IAF squadron to be equipped with the C-295 aircraft will be 11 Squadron (The Rhinos) based at Vadodara.