India’s first domestically assembled Airbus C-295 transport aircraft is reportedly nearing rollout from the Tata-Airbus production facility in Gujarat.
Videos shared online recently revealed a nearly completed aircraft positioned on the final assembly line at the Vadodara plant. Although neither the Indian government, industry stakeholders, nor the Indian Air Force have officially announced a launch timeline, local reports suggest the rollout could take place ahead of the previously anticipated September 2026 schedule.
The development forms part of a $2.5 billion agreement signed with Airbus in 2021 for 56 C-295 transport aircraft intended to replace the Indian Air Force’s aging Avro Hawker Siddeley 748 fleet. Airbus has already delivered the first 16 aircraft from its facility in Seville, Spain, while the remaining 40 are being assembled in India in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems.
Industry sources stated that the achievement represents the first time a privately owned Indian company has manufactured a military aircraft within the country, marking a major step for India’s defense industry and the government’s “Make in India” initiative. The project has also strengthened the domestic aerospace ecosystem, with thousands of aircraft components now sourced from Indian small businesses and supplier networks.
The C-295 is a versatile tactical transport aircraft designed for troop movement, logistics missions, medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance, and special operations. Featuring short takeoff and landing capability, the platform can operate from rugged and minimally developed airstrips.
The aircraft measures 24 meters in length with a wingspan of 26 meters and can carry more than 70 personnel or up to 9,250 kilograms of payload. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127G turboprop engines producing 2,644 horsepower each and uses six-bladed Hamilton Sundstrand propellers. The aircraft is also equipped with six hardpoints and a Honeywell weather radar system.
The C-295 has a maximum speed of 482 kilometers per hour, an operational range of 5,000 kilometers, and a service ceiling of 9,145 meters.
