C-295 aircraft
Today is a very special day for the Indian defense and aerospace sector. Today, private participation in India’s defense sector is set to get a big boost. Now, Airbus’s C-295 military transport aircraft will be produced only in India. For this purpose, Tata Aircraft Base has been prepared at Vadodara. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the privately-owned factory today along with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez. India’s C-295 project will have a total of 56 aircraft, of which 16 will be delivered directly by Airbus and the remaining 40 will be manufactured in India. The manufacturing of these 40 C-295 aircraft will be undertaken by “Tata Advanced Systems Limited”.
The Air Force will receive its first indigenously designed transport aircraft, the C-295, in September 2026. The C-295 is a historic project as it is the first time a complete military aircraft is manufactured in India by a private company. In October 2022, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara assembly line. Tata Aircraft Base…FAL will be the first private sector company in the country to manufacture military aircraft. Tata Aircraft Base creates an ecosystem for the entire life cycle of an aircraft, from manufacturing to assembly, testing and qualification, delivery and maintenance.
➡️The entry into service of the new generation C-295 airlift aircraft is a milestone achievement of self-reliance.
➡️ As India’s first military aircraft manufactured by a private company, this landmark mission is to build 40 aircrafts by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd.
➡️16 aircraft pic.twitter.com/rY1shiem8n
— Ministry of Defense, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) October 27, 2024
The first aircraft will enter service in 2026
Apart from Tata, many government and private companies will also play a role in the C-295 programme. PSUs such as Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited are part of the scheme. Manufacturing of C-295 aircraft at Tata Aircraft Base in Vadodara will begin this year. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2026. Delivery of all 40 aircraft is expected to be completed by August 2031. This is India’s first military aircraft project and will strengthen the country’s aerospace industry with the participation of the private sector. This is an important step towards India’s self-reliance.
Characteristics of C-295 aircraft
- Replaces 1960s-era SS 748 Avros aircraft
- A new generation of aircraft for air transport operations
- 9.5 tons payload
- With modern technology and better avionics
- India’s first military aircraft built by private company
Native content for C-295
- Top 16 aircraft: 8% domestically produced
- Next 24 aircraft: 75% domestically produced
