India on Wednesday conducted the maiden test flight of its first ‘Made in India’ Airbus C295 military transport aircraft from the final assembly line (FAL) in Vadodara.
The event marks an important milestone for the country’s aerospace and defense manufacturing sectors, with the successful test flight representing a major leap forward for the C295 program and the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“India’s first made-in-India Airbus C295 military transport aircraft has made its maiden test flight from the final assembly line in Vadodara, marking a major milestone for Indian aviation and defence. This maiden test flight is a crucial step in the post-production testing process of the aircraft,” Airbus Defense said in a social media post.
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The aircraft is the first of 40 C295 aircraft to be manufactured in India under a partnership between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited for the Indian Air Force.
“As the first of 40 aircraft to be manufactured in India, the test flight furthers the programme’s goal of delivering the first C295 made in India this year to the Indian Air Force,” the statement added.
The C295 India program is the first example of a military aircraft to be manufactured in India by the private sector.
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“The progress of the program reflects the consistent and dedicated work of Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems Limited and several small and medium-sized Indian companies, which manufacture aircraft spare parts across India,” the statement added.
The C295 is a versatile and reliable tactical transport aircraft that has become a cornerstone of military operations around the world.
Manufactured by Airbus Defense and Space, the C295 is designed to meet the diverse needs of modern militaries, including tactical support, shipping support, surveillance, humanitarian aid and other missions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, inaugurated the Vadodara factory, from where the plane conducted a test flight in October 2024.
