Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to preside over the handover of the first C295 military transport aircraft produced under the Made in India initiative at the Tata–Airbus facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. The occasion is being viewed as a significant step in India’s indigenous defence manufacturing journey, highlighting the country’s objective of strengthening local production capabilities and reducing dependence on imported defence platforms. The delivery, anticipated in the latter half of the year, marks the outcome of years of collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus, and reflects a broader push toward domestic manufacturing of advanced aircraft.

The Vadodara-built C295 is the first major aircraft to emerge from the joint Final Assembly Line established by TASL and Airbus. This facility has been set up to assemble and equip both civilian and military transport aircraft within India, symbolising a new phase in the country’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.

A key aspect of the programme is its localisation profile. Around 70 per cent of the aircraft’s components are being sourced domestically, while the remaining 30 per cent are imported, including engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney. This balance illustrates India’s progress in building local supply chains, while continuing to rely on select foreign technologies for critical systems.

Under the agreement with the Ministry of Defence, the Vadodara plant will manufacture 40 of the 56 C295 aircraft ordered for the Indian Air Force. The other 16 aircraft have already been delivered from Airbus facilities in Spain, reflecting a phased production and delivery approach that combines overseas expertise with growing domestic capacity. Assigning the bulk of the aircraft to be produced in Vadodara underscores confidence in India’s ability to meet stringent quality and certification standards, and provides a framework for scaling up indigenous aircraft production in line with defence requirements.

Speaking at the Singapore Air Show, Airbus President International and Executive Committee member Wouter Van Wersch described the Vadodara assembly line as central to Airbus’s long-term strategy in India. He noted that the company aims to deepen its manufacturing presence and develop India as a major hub for engineering and digital capabilities.

Van Wersch also highlighted Airbus’s broader investments in localisation, workforce training, and platform development. He pointed to the expansion of Airbus’s Bengaluru operations, including a move to a larger campus, as evidence of the company’s confidence in India’s engineering talent and its potential role in advanced aerospace development.

Training initiatives across India, including at Airbus’s Delhi office, further reinforce the long-term nature of the partnership and its integration with India’s defence and aerospace ecosystem. Beyond meeting domestic defence needs, the Vadodara project is being positioned as a foundation for future exports. Airbus has indicated that the facility could eventually supply aircraft to regional markets, aligning with India’s ambition to emerge as a regional aerospace manufacturing hub.

The C295 programme reflects India's broader defence-industrial strategy of enhancing self-reliance while maintaining access to advanced technologies through international partnerships. By combining local assembly with selective imports, the project demonstrates a phased and pragmatic approach to indigenisation. As the delivery ceremony approaches, the Vadodara-built C295 is expected to serve as a tangible example of India’s progress in defence manufacturing, with potential ripple effects across investment, skill development, and export opportunities in the aerospace sector.