SOURCE: AFI
The first-ever Made-in-India fuselage for the C-295 transport aircraft has been completed and showcased, marking a major milestone in India’s defense manufacturing landscape. This fuselage is part of a project by Tata-Airbus to produce 40 C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), intended to replace the aging fleet of Avro-748 transports. As a central component of the aircraft’s structural assembly, this fuselage will soon be integrated into a fully assembled C-295 at the Tata-Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The assembly facility at Vadodara, established by Tata-Airbus, represents the first private sector FAL for military aircraft in India. This collaboration marks a significant shift toward private sector involvement in defense production, reducing reliance on imports and advancing India’s vision of self-reliance in defense manufacturing, known as Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The C-295 program is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, fostering a skilled workforce and bolstering local industry with a robust supply chain across India.
The Tata-Airbus partnership for C-295 production is a landmark endeavor, as it sets the foundation for the private sector’s growing role in Indian defense aviation. The Vadodara FAL will be responsible not only for assembling the aircraft but also for integrating components sourced from various domestic suppliers. This end-to-end capability within the country is expected to drastically reduce costs, timelines, and logistical challenges, while also expanding India’s aerospace manufacturing base.