The Indian Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard are set to significantly boost their tactical transport capabilities with the planned induction of 15 C-295MW aircraft. Of these, nine will be allocated to the Indian Navy and six to the Coast Guard. The aircraft will complement the Indian Air Force’s existing fleet, which began inducting the C-295 in 2023.
According to defence officials, commercial bids for the marine variant of the C-295 must be submitted by December 2025. The procurement follows the Defence Acquisition Council’s approval of the Acceptance of Necessity and a Request for Proposal issued in March this year.
The C-295MW aircraft are being manufactured in Vadodara, Gujarat, under a landmark joint venture between Airbus and the Tata consortium. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the facility alongside the Spanish President in 2023, marking India’s first indigenous production of military aircraft by a private company. While 16 aircraft are being made in Spain, the remaining 40 will be produced in India.
The Indian Air Force has already received 15 of the 56 aircraft ordered under a 2021 deal. Its first C-295 squadron has been raised at the Vadodara facility, and the first Made-in-India aircraft is expected to be delivered by August 2026.
The C-295 is capable of carrying 5 to 10 tons of cargo, transporting 70 soldiers or 50 fully-equipped paratroopers. It has a rear ramp for paradropping and can be configured with 24 stretchers for medical evacuations. With a maximum flying time of 11 hours, a top speed of 480 km/h, and short runway capability, it is ideal for high-altitude and tactical missions, including along the Line of Actual Control with China.
The ageing Avro fleet is being phased out in favour of the C-295. Other aircraft like the AN-32 and IL-76 will follow, with the AN-32 set to begin retirement post-2032. The Indian Air Force has already issued a Request for Information for a new medium transport aircraft to succeed the AN-32 in the coming years.
