In a significant boost to the Indian Air Force’s tactical airlift capabilities, the 16th and final C295 transport aircraft manufactured at Airbus Defence and Space’s facility in Seville, Spain, has been officially handed over to India. This delivery concludes the first phase of the C295 procurement program and marks a strategic turning point as the project now enters its Indian production stage.
The C295 aircraft, which will replace the ageing Avro-748 fleet, is a versatile tactical airlifter capable of performing a range of missions including troop transport, cargo airlift, special operations, and humanitarian assistance. The completion of all 16 aircraft deliveries from Spain sets the stage for the next phase of the program—local manufacturing in India under the Make in India initiative.
With the Spanish deliveries complete, production activity will now shift to the final assembly line (FAL) being established in Vadodara, Gujarat, by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in partnership with Airbus. The Vadodara facility, the first private-sector aircraft manufacturing project of its kind in India, is on track to roll out its first C295 in September 2026.
At the Vadodara plant, the remaining 40 aircraft will be assembled, integrated, and tested, with key components such as fuselages, empennages, and wings being produced domestically. This marks a major step in India’s journey toward self-reliance in aerospace manufacturing and technology development.
More than 125 Indian MSMEs are already involved in the C295 ecosystem. Airbus and Tata aim to create a comprehensive supply chain and maintenance base that not only supports Indian operations but also serves export opportunities in the future. The project is expected to generate thousands of skilled jobs, enable significant technology transfer, and strengthen India’s defence industrial base.
With the transition to domestic production now underway, the C295 program is emerging as a landmark example of collaborative defence manufacturing under the Make in India vision, combining operational readiness with long-term strategic self-reliance.
