The first C-295 military transport aircraft assembled in India is expected to roll out from the new facility in Vadodara by September 2026, according to official sources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will inaugurate the Vadodara plant, operated by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), on October 30. The facility is a significant milestone as it marks the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is acquiring 56 C-295 aircraft under a Rs 219.35 billion contract signed in September 2021 with Airbus Defense and Space SA, Spain. Of these, 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition from Spain by August 2025, while 40 will be manufactured locally in partnership with TASL. Production of components has already commenced at TASL’s Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad, with parts to be transported to Vadodara for final assembly. Pre-assembly activities at the Vadodara plant will begin in December 2024, with full assembly starting by October 2025. The IAF has already inducted six C-295 aircraft, with deliveries taking place at the Hindan airbase in Ghaziabad. The remaining 39 aircraft manufactured in India are scheduled for delivery by August 2031. The C-295 aircraft will replace the IAF’s ageing Avro-748 fleet, which has been in service for over 60 years. The C-295 is a versatile transport aircraft capable of carrying 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, conducting airdrop missions, and supporting medical evacuation. It is also designed for special missions, disaster response, and maritime patrol. Each aircraft will feature an electronic warfare suite developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). TASL will gradually increase local value addition from 48% for the initial 16 aircraft to 75% for the remaining 24 units. Of the 14,000 components used per aircraft, 13,000 will be produced in India, with 37 companies, including 33 MSMEs, participating in the supply chain. The C-295 project is expected to generate over 600 high-skill jobs directly, 3,000 indirect jobs, and an additional 3,000 medium-skill positions, totaling more than 4.25 million man-hours of work. Airbus aims to transfer up to 96% of its production capacity from Spain to India by the time the project reaches full maturity. This initiative aligns with the government’s 'Make in India' program, fostering a domestic aerospace ecosystem and enhancing the capabilities of the Indian private sector in military manufacturing. (ET)