Airbus To Showcase Scaled Models Of C295 Aircraft, Helicopters During Defexpo 2016

Airbus Group will showcase scaled models of its military helicopters, surveillance radars and observation systems based on its participation in Make in India programs at the upcoming Defexpo 2016 in Goa later this month.

Scaled models of C295W as well as the military helicopters H125M Fennec, AS565MBe Panther, EC725 (now marketed as the H225M), SPEXER border/ coastal surveillance radar, a land based Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS), ARGOS II and GOSHAWK II airborne observation systems, MUSS self-protection system against guided ammunition for battlefield vehicles and ALTAS-2QB hostile laser warners will be at display during the exposition, the company said in a statement Wednesay.

“We are at the forefront of the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” said Pierre de Bausset, President & Managing Director, Airbus Group India. “We will use Defexpo to present our plans to produce defence platforms in India and basically build an industrial eco-system supporting it in collaboration with local partners.”

The selection process for the C295W medium transport aircraft is ongoing. To date, 144 C295s have been delivered out of 165 on order and it is in service in 20 countries.

The AS565 MBe Panther is showcased eyeing the requirements of the Indian Navy’s Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) programme for around 100 units. It is an all-weather, multi-role light helicopter that can be operated from ship decks or offshore to cover an array of naval missions - such as maritime surveillance, search and rescue, casualty evacuation, vertical replenishment, offshore patrolling, counter-terrorism. The H125M Fennec is foreseen for the Indian Army’s and Air Force’s Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) need of around 400 units.

The EC725 (now marketed as H225M) is under selection process for the Indian Coast Guard’s 14 shore-based helicopter tender and is also perfectly suited for the Indian Navy’s 120+ Naval Multi-Role Helicopter (NMRH) programme.