Spain is pushing for it , so is Russia , they want India to use more of their equipments for the need of Air Force or military transporation usage for the upcoming decade.
Traditionally dominated by the Russian equipments for its Defence needs, India no more relys on the aircraft produced in Russia completely. It has started looking towards Europe for a mixed military fleet , for various other reasons.
Worth mentioning, India currently has a confirmed order for 56 Airbus C295. Sixteen of them will be manufactured in Seville and their expected delivery date is 2025. The rest will be built in the Indian territory, specifically at Tata Advanced Systems manufacturing facilities.
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There is an increase in defense cooperation between India and Spain, according to José María Ridao Domínguez, Spanish ambassador to India. Assuring that Spain is ready and willing to provide more Airbus C295 military transport aircraft should New Delhi express its desire to receive more.
Talking about the buzzed Russian equipment , at the Dubai Airshow 2023 , Russian officials showcased the revamped Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A, designed for cargo and personnel transport. The upgraded aircraft, with modern features, is being offered to nations like India.
Notable here is , India's Air Force and Navy have between them a considerable number of Russian-made aircraft with Ilyushin's IL-76s, IL-78s, and IL-38s among them. Russia is ready to both upgrade the aircraft already in service and supply new equipment meeting long-term requirements of India.
Russian Ilyushins have been the primary equipments for the heavy-lift flight requirements in India. The South Asian country has already accumulated considerable experience in operating the type in last three decades.
If Russian equipment is choosen,the infrastructure already established in India will prove to be instrumental in providing commonality of parts and components for its aircraft fleet, as well as training and maintenance systems.
On the other hand, Domínguez has made it clear that there are no political disagreements between Spain and India. Indicating that, if India wishes, Spain is willing to provide more military transport aircraft. This step would firmly position India as a significant ally within the Indo-Pacific region, which again India would definitely like to continue to.
However, there are some proposals that if India were to increase procurement of Airbus C295s, it is quite possible that this number could be manufactured in the country, or most of it at least.
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In Russia as a manufacturer , Spain will face a strong competitor to bag the new contracts, with which to satisfy India's air transport needs. India will now have to decide between ordering the Airbus C295 or the Russian Il-76MD-90A.
In this sense, it should be noted that despite the recent advances in Defense cooperation between Spain and India, or the case of Rafale fighter Jets with France , the reality is that the Indian Air Force uses 17 Ilyushin Il-76s, so it would not be a problem for its units to adapt to the new Russian plane.
The aircraft is derived from the design of the production IL-76MD with modernized wings and installation of more powerful and quiet PS-90A-76 engines.
Although India is yet to make a formal request to Moscow for a possible acquisition, a last moment decision could be a spoiler for Spain's hopes.
India understands that the fleet of 17 Ilyushin Il-76s used by Indian Air Force are aging, as these fleet of aircraft were acquired in the 1980s and likely to reach their design life by 2034 or similar period.
The factors, those could push India tilting in favour of Russia are — The Il-76 variants have continually improved over time from the current variants with India, and the addition of the powerful PS-90A-76 turbofan engines have made the aircraft qualifying to become a workhorse. These incredible engines significantly improve takeoff and landing performance, while increasing cruise efficiency.
In 2018 , India's delegation toured of defense facilities in Russia’s Privolzhsky Federal District visited Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP.
Few other factors, which the C295s will find competition , could be the greater payload capacity, extended flight range , though fuel efficiency could still be debatable.
Russian state-owned defense majo in Moscow says,
"The aircraft is suitable for regional airlift of troops, military equipment, and cargo, as well as their air dropping. The IL-76/78 can be deployed from unpaved runways, something to consider since not all military transports in the world can boast such capability."
"Being consistent with ICAO's noise and emission requirements, Russia's advanced Ilyushins also service international commercial lines."
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