Airbus has completed the delivery of 16 C-295 tactical airlifters to India, fulfilling the first phase of a larger deal aimed at revamping the country’s transport aircraft capabilities.
The final handover ceremony was held in Seville, Spain, and attended by representatives from the Indian Air Force and India’s diplomatic mission.
The delivery, completed ahead of schedule, marks a critical milestone in India’s efforts to boost military readiness and strengthen its defense infrastructure.
India signed the deal in 2021 for a total of 56 C-295 aircraft, replacing the aging Avro 748 fleet. While the first 16 were built in Spain, the rest will be manufactured domestically.
As part of the ‘Make in India’ push, Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus launched a production line in Vadodara in late 2024 to assemble the remaining 40 aircraft locally.
