India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem is poised for a milestone with the first Made-in-India C-295 aircraft expected to roll out of the final assembly line in Vadodara, Gujarat, before September 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced during talks with Spain’s Foreign Minister.
The C-295 programme is being executed under a ₹21,935-crore contract signed in September 2021 between India’s Ministry of Defence, Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for 56 medium-lift tactical transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Under this deal, the first 16 aircraft were delivered in “fly-away” condition from Airbus’ Seville facility, while the remaining 40 aircraft are to be manufactured domestically at the Airbus-Tata Final Assembly Line inaugurated in October 2024 in Vadodara.
The upcoming rollout marks a key Make in India achievement, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in advanced aerospace production and defence industrial collaboration with international partners. As part of broader bilateral ties with Spain, India’s significant trade partner in the European Union, the programme also underscores deepening strategic cooperation in defence technology, manufacturing and global supply chain integration.
Once operational, the Made-in-India C-295 transport aircraft will strengthen the IAF’s tactical airlift capability, offering enhanced logistics, troop movement and humanitarian support across diverse mission profiles.
