Airbus is on track to deliver the first C295 tactical transport aircraft assembled at its final assembly line in Vadodara, Gujarat during the second half of 2026, a major milestone for India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing sector. The aircraft is part of a 56-aircraft order placed by the Indian Air Force (IAF) under a ₹21,935 crore contract signed in 2021 to replace its ageing Avro fleet and boost airlift capability.
The first 16 C295s were delivered in “fly-away” condition from Airbus’s facility in Seville, Spain, but the remaining 40 aircraft will be made and assembled in India at the new Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL)–Airbus final assembly line inaugurated in Vadodara in October 2024 as part of the Make in India initiative.
The Vadodara facility, the first of its kind in the Indian private sector for military aircraft, integrates manufacture of parts, sub-assemblies and final assembly, creating a significant boost for domestic aerospace capabilities and employment. The programme also involves extensive participation from Indian suppliers and supports broader goals of self-reliance in defence manufacturing under AatmaNirbhar Bharat.
Once operational, the India-assembled C295s are expected to enhance the IAF’s tactical and logistical reach, while underscoring India’s growing stature as a strategic aerospace partner in global defence supply chains.
