India assembled its first domestically built Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft

India assembled its first domestically built Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft

¨     India assembled its first domestically built Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft.

¨     The aircraft was completed on 17 May 2026 at the Tata-Airbus facility in Vadodara.

¨     The aircraft is now ready for flight testing.

¨     The project is part of the 56-aircraft agreement signed for the Indian Air Force in September 2021.

¨     The C-295 programme is being implemented under the “Make in India” initiative.

¨     Out of 56 aircraft, 16 will be delivered directly from Spain in fly-away condition.

¨     The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India.

¨     Flight testing of the first India-made aircraft is expected to begin in June 2026.

¨     The aircraft may be delivered to the Indian Air Force by September 2026.

¨     The project is considered a major step towards strengthening India’s defence manufacturing capability.

¨     The Tata-Airbus Final Assembly Line is located in the Harni area of Vadodara.

¨     The facility was inaugurated on 28 October 2024 by Narendra Modi and Pedro Sánchez.

¨     It is India’s first full military aircraft manufacturing facility established by a private Indian company.

¨     Tata Advanced Systems Limited is a key partner in the project.

¨     The project has strengthened the role of India’s private sector in defence manufacturing.