First Made-in-India C295 Delivery Delayed as Final Testing Continues

The delivery of the first C295 transport aircraft manufactured in India for the Indian Air Force is likely to be delayed as the aircraft undergoes additional testing and final checks. The aircraft, produced at the Tata-Airbus final assembly facility in Vadodara, was originally expected to be handed over to the Indian Air Force in September. The induction is now expected to take place in the coming weeks as testing and the resolution of minor issues continue.

The first Indian-made C295 completed its maiden flight from Vadodara in June, marking an important milestone in India's efforts to establish domestic military aircraft manufacturing capabilities. The C295 programme is being implemented through a partnership between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. Under the agreement signed in 2021, India is set to receive 56 C295 aircraft.

The first 16 aircraft are being delivered from Airbus' facility in Spain, while the remaining 40 aircraft are being manufactured and assembled in India. The Vadodara facility, inaugurated in October 2024, is India's first private-sector final assembly line for military aircraft. The facility is expected to progressively manufacture the remaining aircraft under the programme.

The C295 is being inducted into the Indian Air Force to replace its ageing Avro HS-748 transport fleet. The aircraft is designed for tactical transport operations and can be used to carry troops and equipment, conduct medical evacuation missions and support humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief operations. The programme is also expected to strengthen India's domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem. Indian companies are being integrated into the supply chain, with components and aerostructures for the aircraft being manufactured locally.

The delay in handing over the first Indian-built aircraft comes as final testing is being completed. Once the necessary checks are concluded, the aircraft will be formally handed over to the Indian Air Force. The first delivery from the Vadodara facility will be closely watched as it represents a shift from India primarily receiving C295 aircraft manufactured overseas to producing the platform domestically. The development is therefore significant not only for the Indian Air Force's transport fleet but also for India's broader push to expand indigenous defence manufacturing and private-sector participation in aerospace production.