Why in news?
India received the last of sixteen C‑295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space in July 2025, ahead of schedule. The remaining forty aircraft will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems under a landmark technology‑transfer programme.
What is the C‑295?
The C‑295 is a medium tactical transport aircraft designed by the Spanish company CASA, now part of Airbus. It can carry around 70 troops or up to 9 tonnes of cargo and can operate from short or semi‑prepared airstrips. Besides transport duties, variants of the aircraft can be configured for medical evacuation, maritime patrol and surveillance.
Features and Indian significance
- Multirole capability: The aircraft’s rear ramp allows easy loading of vehicles and equipment, and the cabin can be tailored for different missions.
- Long endurance: It can stay airborne for over eleven hours, making it suitable for patrol and surveillance.
- Indigenous production: Under the 2021 contract, sixteen aircraft are built in Spain while forty will be manufactured in India, with Tata assembling and gradually indigenising components. This is the first major military aircraft project executed by an Indian private company.
- Modernisation of fleet: The C‑295s will replace the ageing Avro HS‑748 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, improving tactical airlift capability and enabling rapid deployment to forward areas.
The programme not only upgrades India’s transport fleet but also strengthens the domestic aerospace industry through technology transfer, supply‑chain development and skilled employment.