‘Made in India’ C295 Aircraft Ready, Rollout Expected Soon
Tata completes first full assembly of military transport aircraft in India
India has achieved a major milestone in defence manufacturing as Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has completed the full assembly of the first ‘Made in India’ Airbus C295 military transport aircraft at its Vadodara facility. The aircraft is now expected to be rolled out soon.
The C295 is the same aircraft model reportedly used by the US Air Force in combat search-and-rescue missions to evacuate pilots from Iran, underlining its reliability in high-risk operations.
This is the first time an Indian private company has established a complete military aircraft production line, ending decades of dominance by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in military aircraft manufacturing.
A recent viral video showed a fully assembled C295 aircraft being moved out of Tata’s Vadodara hangar, though Tata, Airbus, and the Indian government are yet to officially confirm it.
India signed a ₹21,935 crore deal with Airbus in 2021 to procure 56 C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Under the agreement, 16 aircraft are being delivered from Spain, while the remaining 40 are being manufactured in India. The C295 is expected to significantly strengthen the IAF, particularly in difficult terrains like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, and the Northeast. The aircraft will replace the ageing Avro-748 fleet and improve troop and cargo transport capabilities.
The aircraft can operate from short and unpaved runways, carry up to 9.5 tonnes of cargo, 70 soldiers, or 48 paratroopers. It also features a rear cargo ramp for faster deployment and can be configured for medical evacuation.
The project is seen as a major boost to India’s ‘Make in India’ defence initiative and a key step toward self-reliance in military manufacturing.
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