India on Saturday took delivery of the 16th and final Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft from Spain, completing the first phase of a strategic defence deal signed in 2021. The aircraft was handed over at Airbus Defence and Space’s assembly line in Seville, with Indian Ambassador Dinesh K Patnaik and senior IAF officials in attendance.
Replacing the Ageing Avro Fleet
The C-295MW, a 5–10 tonne capacity tactical transport aircraft, is set to replace the Indian Air Force’s ageing Avro fleet. With flight endurance of up to 11 hours, the C-295 offers enhanced versatility and efficiency for IAF operations.
Two Months Ahead of Schedule
The Indian Embassy in Spain highlighted that the delivery was completed two months ahead of schedule, underlining the strong Indo-Spanish defence collaboration. These 16 aircraft are part of a larger deal for 56 C-295 aircraft signed with Airbus Defence & Space in September 2021.
Tata To Build Remaining 40 Aircraft in India
While Spain has completed delivery of its 16 aircraft, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will manufacture the remaining 40 at its newly inaugurated Vadodara facility in Gujarat. This facility is the first private-sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India and was jointly inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez in October 2023.
The domestic production will include full lifecycle development—from manufacturing and assembly to testing, delivery, and long-term maintenance.
Building an Indian Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem
The project will include contributions from major defence PSUs like Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd., along with support from private MSMEs. The initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost local defence manufacturing, and reduce India’s dependence on foreign aircraft in the long term.
This programme is a critical component of the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) mission in defence, setting a new benchmark in public-private collaboration.
