India’s Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu (also referred to as Rammohan Naidu in some reports) presents a first glimpse of the country’s made-in-India Airbus C-295 military aircraft. The aircraft is described as a medium-range, twin-engine turboprop tactical transport platform. Multiple outlets connect the showcase to India’s broader goal of expanding domestic defence and aerospace capabilities.
In 2021, India signed a contract worth about $2.6 billion with Airbus to acquire 56 C-295 aircraft to replace the ageing Avro-748 fleet. Under the deal, 40 of the aircraft are to be built in India, with reports specifying production in Vadodara. The remaining aircraft are supplied through the agreement’s overall delivery plan.
The announcements focus on the start of India-based production and the expected role of the aircraft in strengthening indigenous manufacturing, without detailing service dates or operational deployment. Overall, the coverage centers on the first India-made unit and the scale and purpose of the larger procurement programme.
