First Assembly Milestone Reached
Tata Advanced Systems rolled out the first Airbus C295 assembled in India on May 12, 2026, marking a significant production milestone for the country's defense manufacturing sector. The aircraft completed its maiden flight on June 10, 2026, according to reports from Indian Defence News.
Delivery of the aircraft to the Indian Air Force is slated for September 2026. This timeline represents an acceleration of the original schedule; the first Make-in-India C295 was initially scheduled for a rollout in September 2026 but was completed four months earlier.
Contract History and Production Scope
The production program stems from a tender process that was restricted to the private sector, explicitly excluding the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). When bids closed in October 2014, only one bid was submitted, originating from Airbus in partnership with Tata.
The Defence Acquisition Council cleared this lone bid in May 2015. Subsequently, the government signed a contract valued at ₹21,935 crore for the supply of 56 aircraft in September 2021.
Airbus has stated that the program will deliver more than 85 percent of the structural and final assembly work for the 40 Indian-built aircraft. The scope includes the production of 13,000 detail parts, 21 certified special processes, and engagement with 37 Indian suppliers.
Indigenous Content and Design Contributions
Government figures indicate that indigenous content within the program is rising. The level of local contribution increased from 48 percent in the first 16 aircraft to 75 percent in the remaining 24 aircraft.
The extent of Indian design contribution remains limited. However, the first C295 delivered to the Indian Air Force included an indigenous electronic warfare suite.
Future Procurement Plans
On August 12, on the eve of Independence Day, the Ministry of Defence issued a request for proposals for 60 medium transport aircraft. This new procurement effort is reportedly worth around nine billion euros and aims to replace the An-32 and age-old Avro transports currently in service.
The successful establishment of this private military aircraft production line by excluding HAL and accepting a single bid has succeeded, making surrounding policy questions more significant than the aircraft itself.