On June 10, 2026, a twin-engine military transport aircraft lifted off from the Tata-Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat. It was not the first C295 to fly in Indian skies — but it was the first one built there. That distinction matters enormously.

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The aircraft, assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, completed its maiden test flight to validate key systems and manufacturing standards before entering the certification and delivery process. 

The flight forms part of the post-production testing required before delivery, with partners aiming to hand the aircraft over to the Indian Air Force later this year.

For a country that has long been among the world's largest defence importers, this is a watershed moment. But what does 'made in India' actually mean in this context, and how deep does the indigenous content really go?

The deal behind the aircraft

The C295 programme is based on a Rs 21,935-crore contract signed between India and Airbus in 2021 for the acquisition of 56 transport aircraft. Under the agreement, 16 aircraft were delivered directly from Airbus's facility in Spain, while the remaining 40 are being produced in India. 

The Spanish-built aircraft have already begun serving the IAF, replacing the ageing Avro-748........

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