India to Get Last Spain-Built C-295 in September, First Made-in-India Aircraft on Track

India is set to receive the last of the 16 C-295 military transport aircraft built in Spain by Airbus next month, two months ahead of the original timeline, marking a significant milestone in its INR 21,000-crore contract to replace the ageing Avro fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Focus will now shift to the rollout of the first Indian-built C-295 from the Tata-Airbus facility in Vadodara, which is set to be on track for production and delivery within the contracted timelines.

What is the C-295 contract of the IAF?

The C-295 project is a joint effort between Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), under which the first 16 aircraft are delivered in fly-away condition from Spain. At the same time, the remaining 40 will be manufactured and assembled in India.

A senior defence source confirmed that the first Indian-manufactured C-295 is on schedule and is expected to roll out in September 2026, with the rest of the 39 aircraft to follow by 2031.

While the final assembly line is located in Vadodara, the majority of components, such as fuselage sections, are being manufactured at TASL’s facilities in Hyderabad and Nagpur. These parts are then transported to Gujarat for final integration.

This marks the first instance in Indian aerospace history where a private sector company is manufacturing a full military aircraft. The Tata-Airbus collaboration involves close to 90 percent technology transfer.

How does the C-295 project boost Indian aerospace capabilities?

Starting with the 30th aircraft, all remaining C-295s will be completely built in India, without any Airbus input abroad, in terms of man-hours, according to defence sources.

In parallel, talks are progressing between Airbus-TATA and Indian maritime forces for additional orders. The Indian Navy is exploring the procurement of nine C-295s, while the Indian Coast Guard is considering a fleet of seven aircraft designed for maritime operations.

TASL is also pushing forward with a robust indigenisation plan. Of the approximately 14,000 parts that make up the C-295, nearly 4,000 are being indigenised annually. Only non-Airbus parts such as engines, avionics, and landing gear will continue to be sourced externally.

This landmark project is a key part of India’s efforts to boost aerospace manufacturing and self-reliance in defence production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.