The first “Make in India” C295 transport aircraft will roll out of the newly built Vadodara facility — inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PM of Spain Pedro Sanchez on Monday —- in September 2026.
Except for the aircraft engine and some parts, over 13,000 parts of the medium-lift tactical C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be manufactured indigenously in India. “This factory will strengthen India-Span relations and will also drive the Make-in-India Make-for-the-world initiative… This factory also reflects the new work culture of New India. It shows the speed at which India is working. Just two years ago the construction of the factory had started and now it is ready for aircraft production,” PM Modi said while inaugurating the facility with his Spanish counterpart.
Sanchez’s maiden visit to India
Sanchez, who is on his maiden visit to India, said, “40 aircraft will be assembled here at this facility in Vadodara. We will also manufacture all sections and 13,000 of a total of 40,000 detailed parts in India.”
India has become the largest customer for the C295, acquiring 56 aircraft. The C295 ‘Make in India’ program will produce more than 85 per cent of the structural and final assembly of 40 aircraft and manufacture 13,000 detail parts in India. For this, 21 special processes have been certified, and 37 India-based suppliers, both from the private and public sectors, have been onboarded.
The inauguration comes three years after the Indian Air Force (IAF) formalized the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft to replace its legacy AVRO fleet. As per the contract, 40 units will be manufactured and assembled in partnership with TASL at this FAL, while 16 will be delivered to the IAF in ‘fly-away’ condition from Airbus’ final assembly line in Seville, Spain. To date, six aircraft have already been delivered.
components production
The production of components of the C295 aircraft has already started in the Main Component Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad. The parts for the first C295 aircraft to be made in India have been shipped to the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, where the aircraft will be assembled and then delivered to the IAF. The FAL will integrate the manufacturing of detailed parts and related tooling, sub-assemblies, major component assemblies, tools, jigs, and testers.
Earlier, both Prime Ministers participated in a roadshow from Vadodara airport to the new aircraft manufacturing facility. Hoardings with “Bienvenido” inscribed on them lined both sides of the roads leading from the Vadodara airport to the new aircraft manufacturing facility, welcoming both the PM of Spain and PM Modi.