The C295 jet, configured for transport and equipped with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, will soon embark on its journey from Airbus’ production site in Seville, Spain, to Delhi, India.
Airbus Defence and Space has officially delivered the first of 56 C295 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF), marking a significant milestone in a contract aimed at replacing the aging Hawker Siddeley Avros-748 fleet. This particular C295, configured for transport and equipped with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, will soon embark on its journey from Airbus’ production site in Seville, Spain, to Delhi, India. The flight will be piloted by a joint IAF-Airbus crew.
The initial batch of 16 C295s, part of the 56-aircraft order, will be assembled at the San Pablo Sur site in Seville, Spain. The second aircraft is set to be delivered in May 2024, followed by one aircraft per month until August 2025. The delivery ceremony held in Seville in the presence of IAF Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.
“It was only two years ago that we signed this contract with India, the largest order in the history of the C295,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus’ Head of Military Air Systems. “Today, we are enhancing the capabilities of the Indian Air Force and modernising its transport fleet by delivering the first aircraft on schedule. This is the beginning of an exciting and long-term journey with the Indian Air Force,” he further added.
A “Make in India” Initiative
To bolster self-reliance in India’s defense manufacturing sector, the remaining 40 C295s from the IAF’s order will be manufactured and assembled in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). The Final Assembly Line (FAL) for these aircraft will be located in Vadodara, western India.
The production of components for these aircraft has already commenced in the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility located in Hyderabad, southern India. These components will be transported to the Vadodara FAL, which is anticipated to become operational by November 2024.
The first ‘Make in India’ C295 aircraft is projected to roll off the Vadodara FAL’s assembly line in September 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Indian aerospace industry. The final C295 aircraft under this contract is expected to be delivered to the IAF by August 2031.
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With an impressive track record of 283 orders from 41 operators worldwide, the C295 stands as the undisputed leader in its segment. Its versatility is a key highlight, as it can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, conduct cargo airdrops, facilitate medical evacuations, and take off and land on short and unpaved runways.
