India achieved a major defence manufacturing milestone as the first domestically built C295 military transport aircraft successfully completed its maiden test flight in Gujarat.

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• The first Made-in-India C295 military transport aircraft successfully completed its maiden test flight at the Tata-Airbus final assembly facility located in Vadodara, Gujarat.
• The successful flight marks an important milestone in India’s defence manufacturing journey and advances the objective of delivering the first domestically built aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
• Tata Advanced Systems Limited is manufacturing the aircraft in partnership with Airbus under the Make in India initiative, representing private sector participation in military aircraft production.
• India signed a ₹21,935 crore agreement in 2021 to procure 56 C295 aircraft, with 16 supplied from Spain and the remaining 40 being manufactured domestically.
• The Vadodara production facility was inaugurated on 28 October 2024 and serves as the manufacturing hub for India’s indigenous C295 assembly programme.
• The C295 will replace the ageing Avro-748 fleet and is designed for troop transport, cargo movement, medical evacuation, and special military operations.
• Equipped with twin turboprop engines and short take-off and landing capability, the aircraft can operate effectively from rugged, remote, and semi-prepared airstrips.
• The successful maiden flight strengthens India’s indigenous aerospace ecosystem and supports long-term goals of self-reliance in defence production and advanced aviation manufacturing.