First C-295 tactical transport aircraft assembled in India
India’s defence manufacturing sector achieved a significant landmark today as the first C-295 tactical transport aircraft assembled at the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus joint Final Assembly Line in Vadodara emerged in primer coat from the facility.
Social media videos show the aircraft, bearing the marking “17”, standing on the tarmac outside the assembly hall, with engineers and workers present at the advanced manufacturing complex in Gujarat. This event represents the first time a military transport aircraft has been manufactured by India’s private sector.
Under Rs.21,935 crore deal signed in 2021, the Indian Air Force is acquiring 56 C-295 aircraft to replace its ageing Avro-748 fleet. Of these, the initial 16 aircraft are being supplied fully assembled from Airbus’s plant in Seville, Spain, with several already delivered and inducted. The remaining 40 aircraft are being produced in India at the Vadodara facility, with a steadily increasing share of indigenous content.
The Final Assembly Line was inaugurated in October 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. It is the first aircraft FAL established by the private sector in India.
The first fully “Made in India” C-295 is scheduled to roll out in September 2026, with all 40 indigenous aircraft expected to be delivered by August 2031. Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and Airbus officials have highlighted the project’s role in building long-term aerospace capabilities in the country.
The C-295 is a versatile modern transport aircraft designed for troop and cargo movement, paradropping, and operations from short, semi-prepared runways. It is particularly suited for high-altitude regions, the Northeast, and island territories.
The project is generating thousands of jobs, strengthening domestic supply chains including major component manufacturing in Hyderabad, and enabling technology transfer. It is viewed as a key step in reducing dependence on imports and establishing India as a global defence manufacturing hub.
Defence analysts describe the development as a breakthrough in India’s aerospace industry, shifting from traditional public sector dominance to greater private sector participation. Further updates on painting, ground testing, and flight certification are anticipated in the coming months.
