BSF Seeks C-295M Acquisition for Enhanced Mobility and Operational Edge

India's Border Security Force (BSF) looks to bolster its operational capabilities with plans to potentially acquire at least two Airbus C-295M transport aircraft.

This move, pending approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, would significantly enhance the BSF's ability to move troops and cargo across India's extensive borders.

Addressing Fleet Needs and Modernization​

Currently, the BSF relies heavily on a fleet of over 20 helicopters for transportation purposes, along with a single Embraer 135 BJ business jet primarily used for VIP transport.

The C-295M would significantly expand the BSF's airlift capacity, addressing the limitations of its existing options. The tragic loss of a Beechcraft Super King Air aircraft in 2015 further underscores the need for fleet modernization and expansion.

Following a National Trend​

The BSF's potential acquisition of C-295Ms mirrors a broader trend across India's armed forces.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed a substantial order for 65 C-295M aircraft, to be manufactured in India through a collaborative effort between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus.

Adding to this, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have also opted to acquire 15 C-295Ms configured for maritime missions.

Why the C-295M?​

The C-295M's versatility makes it an attractive choice for the BSF. Designed for tactical airlift, it boasts the ability to transport troops and cargo across substantial distances while operating from short and semi-prepared runways.

This aligns perfectly with the BSF's diverse needs, allowing for rapid deployment and resupply in various border environments.

Outlook​

While final approval for the C-295M acquisition is pending, the BSF's expressed interest demonstrates a clear commitment to enhancing its mobility and operational effectiveness.

Should the acquisition proceed, the addition of these aircraft will greatly augment the force's ability to safeguard India's borders.

 

[GMR]

It will be a useful procurement for BSF...

 

[Anil Kumar]

Abhi tak so rahe th. Ek sath nahi order kar sakte.

 

[kumar]

Or bsf can make do with avro, to extract remainder life out of avro.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Instead of procuring cargo and transport planes for each of the services and paramilitary forces. Lets have a common agency which operates and maintains cargo and transport planes for all the services.

 

[NSR]

My prediction is that India will end up manufacturing 100+ of C295Ms for various forces and missions.
Do it fast and retire all of those older Avros and AN-32s which would cost an arm and leg to maintain and repair and upgrade as their OEMs disappered long time ago.
Ukraine can't help India anymore.
UK can't help India with Avros either.

So accelerate C295M manufacturing but try to get more TOT as you build more numbers.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Instead of procuring cargo and transport planes for each of the services and paramilitary forces. Lets have a common agency which operates and maintains cargo and transport planes for all the services.

This wont be good. Every force has its own needs should be able to decide on its when it needs to use the plane. Going to a 3rd party to request for a plane every time you need it, is not best option. If asset is yours, its availability is in your hand as well. You can make plans accordingly.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

These kinds of procurement should be done jointly for saving costs. For military, procument done jointly for 3 services. Maybe the paramility procurement should also be combined with military procurement. At least for large assets like transport aircraft.

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

These kinds of procurement should be done jointly for saving costs. For military, procument done jointly for 3 services. Maybe the paramility procurement should also be combined with military procurement. At least for large assets like transport aircraft.

Exactly if the IAF wants to replace an-32 with C295 then they should decide it now , there will be no new transport airport in the market for next 10 years..

Better make a deal to replace all An-32 with C-295 & increase the production capacity & TOT transfer ( also include other forces requirement , BSF , NAVY & Army ) in a single deal that will save millions.

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

Or bsf can make do with avro, to extract remainder life out of avro.

AVROs have no life left , better handle them the old AN-32s till new procurement

 

[kumar]

AVROs have no life left , better handle them the old AN-32s till new procurement

AVROs has life left in them. That was part of review before buying c295.

 

[பாலா குப்புசாமி]

200 defence unit+ 200 regional jet

 

[Sandeep]

It's great that we made this deal which allow us to make any critical journey to move supplies, cargos or troops whenever and wherever we want which is a critical necessity. TATA made the deal with Airbus so they negotiated the numbers, technology transfer, local production and price so in future we can make as many orders as we want. The more orders we place it will increase the technology they transfer and amount of local production with indigenous content is allowed.

 

[Sandeep]

These kinds of procurement should be done jointly for saving costs. For military, procument done jointly for 3 services. Maybe the paramility procurement should also be combined with military procurement. At least for large assets like transport aircraft.

TATA made the deal with Airbus so they negotiated the numbers, technology transfer, local production and price so in future we can make as many orders as we want. The more orders we place it will increase the technology they transfer and amount of local production with indigenous content is allowed.

 

[Sandeep]

Exactly if the IAF wants to replace an-32 with C295 then they should decide it now , there will be no new transport airport in the market for next 10 years..

Better make a deal to replace all An-32 with C-295 & increase the production capacity & TOT transfer ( also include other forces requirement , BSF , NAVY & Army ) in a single deal that will save millions.

TATA made the deal with Airbus so they negotiated the numbers, technology transfer, local production and price so in future we can make as many orders as we want. The more orders we place it will increase the technology they transfer and amount of local production with indigenous content is allowed. So India now just pays for the plane, upkeep

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

TATA made the deal with Airbus so they negotiated the numbers, technology transfer, local production and price so in future we can make as many orders as we want. The more orders we place it will increase the technology they transfer and amount of local production with indigenous content is allowed.

yes we can make as many orders as we want, but cost increases if you make orders incrementally. Bulk orders are way cheaper.

 

[beencensured]

It's great that we made this deal which allow us to make any critical journey to move supplies, cargos or troops whenever and wherever we want which is a critical necessity. TATA made the deal with Airbus so they negotiated the numbers, technology transfer, local production and price so in future we can make as many orders as we want. The more orders we place it will increase the technology they transfer and amount of local production with indigenous content is allowed.

To support crony capitalist in single vendor deals about technology that is old, outdated, and not developed in India is screw driving at its best. Let us not be enamored while trillions of dollars of losses are suffered by the country unwilling to use its talents to develop because of ongoing brain drain so some shameless crony capitalist can have a single vendor deal. Obviously, GOI Must seek out talent and stop the loss of talented people and develop the nation.

 

[beencensured]

TATA made the deal with Airbus so they negotiated the numbers, technology transfer, local production and price so in future we can make as many orders as we want. The more orders we place it will increase the technology they transfer and amount of local production with indigenous content is allowed. So India now just pays for the plane, upkeep

Remember each day that past that technology becomes more dated and backward. India should have developed its own MTA, and such type of aircrafts by now. It is shameful that crony capitalist calls the shots and trillions of dollars of economic loss is done by Brain drain as non-competitive market exist.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

This wont be good. Every force has its own needs should be able to decide on its when it needs to use the plane. Going to a 3rd party to request for a plane every time you need it, is not best option. If asset is yours, its availability is in your hand as well. You can make plans accordingly.

For that they can have a easy access and some minimum guaranteed availability protocols. Maintenance cost will be higher if such assets are duplicated.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

For that they can have a easy access and some minimum guaranteed availability protocols. Maintenance cost will be higher if such assets are duplicated.

maintenace chosts can be minimised by having partnership, the air force and navy has that for the jets that both use, and recently army and air forcce also made a pact for the apache and prachand helicopters. Same can by done with paramilitary.

 

[RG]

Consolidate on a single platform to avoid logistics and maintenance issues, and keep building capability.

 

[desigandu]

Good, but Indian Military Forces (including Coast Guard and BSF) need logistics capability, but instead of a piecemeal and distributed effort, it might be worthwhile to setup a centralized military logistics command, that can have scale, support operations and be specialized (MRO, spares, cost etc...)...Something to think about as we develop our Theater Commands...Borders like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar should be handled by the BSF, and all shallow water activities by the Coast Guard.

 

[desigandu]

Bharat should accelerate its ability/capacity to produce the C-295 domestically from about 6 per year (40 odd + 11 for IN/ICG = 51 domestically as 16 + 4 = 20 will be built in Spain) from 2026 to about 12+ per year to meet the additional needs on IN, ICG and BSF...That way we can make about 100 planes domestically from 2026 to 2035.