First Made-in-India Airbus C295 Military Transport Aircraft Completes Maiden Test Flight
On June 10, 2026, the first Airbus C295 military transport aircraft assembled in India successfully completed its maiden test flight in Vadodara, Gujarat. This milestone, achieved by Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus under India's "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives, marks the Indian private sector's first full military aircraft production. The Indian Air Force is procuring 56 C295s (16 from Spain, 40 assembled locally) to replace its aging Avro fleet, boosting indigenous defense capabilities.
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First 'Made in India' Airbus C295 military transport aircraft completes maiden test flight
The first Airbus C295 military transport aircraft assembled in India successfully completed its maiden test flight from the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat. This milestone, announced by Airbus Defence and Space, is part of post-production testing before delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The aircraft is the first of 40 to be built in India under a 2021 agreement for 56 C295s, with Airbus already delivering 16 from Spain. The IAF will use the C295 to replace its aging Avro fleet. The flight occurred less than two years after Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus opened the FAL complex. The C295 is a tactical transport capable of carrying up to 8 tonnes of payload or 70 troops, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G engines. The achievement underscores India's growing aerospace capabilities under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative.
Airforce TechnologyFirst Airbus C295 assembled in India completes maiden test flight
The first Airbus C295 military transport aircraft assembled in India successfully completed its maiden test flight from the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat. This milestone, announced by Airbus Defence and Space, marks a key step in India's indigenous defence production under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The aircraft is the first of 40 C295s to be built in India by Tata Advanced Systems in partnership with Airbus, as part of a 2021 agreement for 56 aircraft total. Airbus has already delivered 16 fly-away aircraft from Spain, with the final one delivered in August 2024. The new FAL complex opened less than two years ago, and the first Indian-assembled aircraft is expected to be delivered to the Indian Air Force later this year. The C295 is a tactical transport capable of carrying up to 8 tonnes of payload or 70 troops, and has logged over 600,000 flight hours globally.
Airforce TechnologyFirst Made-in-India Airbus C295 Completes Maiden Test Flight
The first Airbus C295 military transport aircraft assembled in India successfully completed its initial test flight from the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat. This milestone marks a significant step in India's defense manufacturing capabilities under the 'Make in India' initiative, with the aircraft being produced locally for the Indian Air Force. The C295 is a medium tactical transport aircraft used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and disaster response. The test flight validates the assembly line's operational readiness and paves the way for future deliveries.
Airforce TechnologyIndia's Tata and Airbus complete first test flight of locally assembled C295 military transport aircraft
India achieved a major milestone in its defense industrialization program as the first Airbus C295 military transport aircraft assembled in India completed its maiden test flight from the Tata-Airbus Final Assembly Line in Vadodara, Gujarat. The aircraft is the first of 40 C295s to be built locally under a 56-aircraft contract with the Indian Air Force, valued at approximately $2.4 billion. The first 16 aircraft were delivered from Spain, while the remaining 40 are being assembled in India with Indian-made components and parts from the global Airbus supply chain. This marks the Indian private sector's first role in manufacturing a complete military aircraft, supporting the government's Make in India initiative. The program also involves Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises in component manufacturing, building long-term aerospace industrial capacity. The first Indian-assembled C295 is expected to be delivered to the Indian Air Force later this year.
The Defence Blog – Military and Defense NewsFirst Made-in-India C-295 Military Transport Aircraft Completes Maiden Test Flight
The first 'Made in India' Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft successfully completed its maiden test flight in Vadodara, Gujarat, on June 10, 2026, as announced by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF is procuring 56 C-295 aircraft at a cost of approximately ₹21,935 crore. Of these, 40 aircraft will be assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in cooperation with Airbus at a production facility in Vadodara. The IAF congratulated the team behind the achievement, stating it reinforces India's growing aerospace capabilities and underscores the commitment to fostering indigenous defense capability under the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision.
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