India has completed assembly of its first locally built Airbus C295 military transport aircraft at the Tata-Airbus final assembly line in Vadodara, Gujarat, marking a key step in the country’s C295 procurement program. The aircraft, produced by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) under a partnership with Airbus, is now prepared for ground and flight testing, according to information shared by the Indian Air Force.
The C295 program stems from a contract worth about Rs 21,935 crore for 56 aircraft. Under the agreement, 16 aircraft are to be delivered directly from Airbus’s facility in Seville, Spain, in fly-away condition, while the remaining 40 are to be assembled in India under the Make in India initiative. The Vadodara plant, inaugurated in October 2024, serves as the hub for this domestic production.
The C295 is a twin-turboprop tactical transport capable of carrying up to 70 troops, 48 paratroopers, or 24 medical stretchers. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW127G engines, it is designed for short take-off and landing and can operate from rugged, semi-prepared and short airstrips, a capability seen as particularly relevant for operations in remote and mountainous regions.
According to publicly available information, around 70% of the aircraft’s components are being sourced locally, while critical systems, including the engines, continue to be imported. Officials have described the program as an important element in reducing long-term dependence on imported defense aircraft and integrating Indian industry into global aerospace supply chains.