India Prepares First Locally Made Military Transport Jet

Indian Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti inspected the first India-made C-295 transport aircraft at a Tata Airbus facility in Vadodara, India. The aircraft is now ready for flight trials and represents progress in domestic aerospace manufacturing. India signed a ₹21,935 crore contract with Spain for 56 C-295 aircraft, with 40 being built in India under the Make in India program.

This new aircraft will replace the Air Force’s aging Avro-748 fleet and can carry up to 70 troops or 24 medical stretchers. Tata Advanced Systems Limited is responsible for all manufacturing, including assembly and testing, with support from Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics for customized electronic warfare systems.

Over 13,000 detailed parts will be produced domestically, integrating 37 Indian suppliers into the supply chain. Though 21 specialized manufacturing processes are now certified, full operational capability and long-term fleet support still require further development.