Airbus and Tata, one of India’s leading industrial groups, have established a pioneering private-sector aircraft manufacturing ecosystem for the C295 program.
This effort will not only modernize the capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which will receive locally assembled C295 aircraft starting in 2026, but will also enable India to transition from being an aircraft importer to an exporter, as reported by our partner media outlet, Aeroin.
Tata Advanced Systems Limited has partnered with Airbus to manufacture 56 C295 aircraft, marking the first complete Airbus production line outside its home countries. This collaboration positions India as the world’s largest operator of the C295.
Spanish Air Force C295
In addition to meeting the IAF’s needs, Tata and Airbus are exploring export opportunities to ensure the continuity of production operations. The strategy also includes discussions about creating a passenger variant of the C295, which Air India could operate to strengthen its regional operations.
Although India does not yet have a major commercial aircraft production line, the government has encouraged Airbus and Boeing to establish facilities in the country. With over 1,200 orders placed by Indian airlines, setting up a domestic final assembly line becomes economically viable.
Currently, Airbus has final assembly lines in China and produces the A220 model in Canada and Mobile, Alabama, USA. Boeing, on the other hand, primarily manufactures in the United States but has several component production factories worldwide.
The C295 will replace the IAF’s aging Avro transport aircraft, modernizing its capabilities. The versatility of the C295’s design makes it ideal for military transport missions and humanitarian operations in India’s diverse geographical conditions.
Key features of the partnership:
- First private-sector aircraft manufacturing company in India.
- Implementation of Airbus’s complete production line outside its home countries.
- The IAF will receive 56 C295 aircraft.
- Export potential to establish India in the global aerospace market.
- Enhanced capabilities for military and humanitarian missions.
- Domestic ecosystem for assembly and manufacturing.
The C295 program creates an extensive manufacturing network across India, involving the sourcing of raw materials and the production of 13,000 complex components.
The Final Assembly Line facilities in Vadodara will receive the assembled components for integration, final assembly, and testing, establishing India as a global hub for aircraft production and developing a robust supply chain for future Airbus orders and international customers.
Strategic manufacturing locations:
- Nagpur: Parts manufacturing center.
- Bangalore: Component production hub.
- Hyderabad: Parts manufacturing and major component assembly.
- Vadodara: Final assembly line operations.
With this complete manufacturing ecosystem, the partnership advances India’s position in international aircraft manufacturing while solidifying Tata’s leadership in advanced manufacturing capabilities.
