Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, May 13: The first “Made-in-India” C-295 military transport aircraft manufactured at the Tata-Airbus facility in Vadodara is reportedly nearing delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF), with videos of the aircraft circulating widely on social media.

While officials have not issued any formal confirmation, sources indicated that the aircraft is ready and is expected to undergo final pre-delivery inspections and acceptance trials shortly.

According to sources familiar with the development, the aircraft will undergo a series of ground checks, systems validation, flight testing and quality inspections involving Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems and IAF teams before induction into service.

As per the original schedule, the first India-manufactured C-295 was expected to be delivered by September 2026. However, reports suggest the delivery could now take place ahead of schedule.

India had signed a deal in September 2021 for the procurement of 56 Airbus C-295 tactical transport aircraft to replace the ageing Avro fleet of the Indian Air Force.

Under the agreement, the first 16 aircraft were delivered directly from Airbus’ assembly line in Seville, Spain, in fly-away condition. All 16 aircraft have already been handed over to the IAF, with the first delivery taking place in September 2023.

The remaining 40 aircraft are being manufactured and assembled in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited under a partnership with Airbus.

The C-295 aircraft is designed for tactical airlift operations and is capable of operating from short and unprepared runways, including in high-altitude and remote border regions. The platform is expected to significantly strengthen the IAF’s transport and logistics capabilities.

The Vadodara Final Assembly Line, inaugurated in October 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is India’s first private-sector military aircraft manufacturing facility.