India plans to procure 15 additional C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus, supplementing the existing contract for 56 units. Out of these, 12 will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), while three will arrive in fly-away condition.
Urgent Requirements and Indigenization Goals
With an urgent need for the aircraft, India aims to receive three of the 15 in fly-away condition. Officials have urged TASL to increase the indigenization level in the 12 aircraft to 78%.
First Private Sector Assembly Line
The Tata Aircraft Complex in Vadodara will serve as India’s first private sector final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft. It will cover the entire aircraft lifecycle, including manufacturing, assembly, testing, qualification, delivery, and maintenance.
Inauguration of the TATA Aircraft Complex
On October 28, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat to inaugurate the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Previous Contracts and Deliveries
The Defence Ministry had signed a ₹21,935-crore contract with Airbus in September 2021 for 56 aircraft, which includes 16 units coming from Spain in fly-away condition and 40 to be assembled in India.
Timeline for Production
The first C-295 from the Vadodara facility is expected to roll out in September 2026, with all 40 aircraft to be delivered by August 2031. This project will replace the legacy HS-748 Avro aircraft currently used by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Increase in Indigenous Content
The indigenous content in the aircraft will rise from 48% in the first 16 units to 75% in the last 24. Approximately 13,000 of the 14,000 detailed parts needed for one aircraft will be manufactured in India.
Employment Opportunities
This project is projected to create 600 skilled jobs directly, alongside over 3,000 indirect jobs and an additional 3,000 medium-skill opportunities. The initiative aims to transfer a significant percentage of manufacturing man-hours from Spain to India over time.
Advanced Features of C-295
All 56 C-295 aircraft will be equipped with an Electronic Warfare Suite manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited. This new-generation tactical airlift aircraft can carry up to 9.5 tonnes and is designed for air transport missions in all weather conditions.
