India has completed a key military aviation milestone with the delivery of the final 16 C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus. The aircraft were formally handed over in Seville, Spain, witnessed by Indian defense representatives and the country’s ambassador.
The delivery was made ahead of schedule and is part of a broader effort to replace India’s aging Avro Hawker Siddeley 748 fleet. India signed a deal in 2021 to acquire 56 C-295s from Airbus, with a portion to be built locally under an industrial partnership.
Under the agreement, the first 16 units were to be supplied from Spain, with the remaining 40 slated for domestic production in India. This structure supports India’s goal of developing an indigenous defense manufacturing ecosystem.
To facilitate this, Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems launched a final assembly line in Vadodara, Gujarat, in October 2024. The facility marks a major step in India’s aerospace ambitions and the localization of advanced aircraft production.
