Image source: Gerard van der Schaaf via Wikipedia
First Made-in-India C-295 Aircraft to Roll Out by September 2026
The first C-295 aircraft manufactured in India is set to roll out of the Vadodara facility by September 2026, according to official sources.
This milestone is part of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) larger procurement of 56 C-295 aircraft, contracted in September 2021. The facility was established following the foundation stone-laying ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2022.
C-295 Aircraft Deal with Airbus
The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹21,935 crore contract with Airbus Defense and Space SA, Spain, to replace the IAF’s ageing fleet of Avro-748 planes. Six of the 16 C-295 planes from Spain have already been inducted into India’s 11 Squadron, stationed in Vadodara, with the last of the flyaway condition aircraft expected by August 2025.
First Private Military Aircraft Assembly Line in India
Of the 40 remaining aircraft, the first Indian-made C-295 will be completed by September 2026, with the rest rolling out by August 2031. Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) is responsible for building these aircraft in India. The Vadodara plant represents the country’s first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft.
Inauguration by PM Modi and Spanish PM
Prime Minister Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will jointly inaugurate the Final Assembly Line (FAL) plant during Sanchez’s visit to India. This collaboration marks a significant step toward self-reliance in defense manufacturing for India.
