India signs C295 deal
Computerised rendering of a C295W in Indian Air Force colours. (Photo: Airbus)
Airbus participates in ‘Make in India’ project to provide the IAF with 56 new tactical airlifters.
The first ‘Make in India’ aircraft manufacturing project in the private sector took another step forward on 24 September, after Airbus announced the formal signing of a contract to provide 56 of its C295W aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
These new medium tactical airlifters will replace a fleet of more than 50 HS748 Avro aircraft.
Under the contract, within four years Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain.
‘The subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies,’ Airbus added in a statement. This process will take six years.
Other Indian companies involved in the programme include Bharat Electronics, Bharat Dynamics and SMEs in the private sector.
All of the IAF C295Ws will be handed over in transport configuration and equipped with an indigenous EW suite.
The IAF will become the 35th C295 operator worldwide, with the programme reaching 278 aircraft (200 of which are already in operation, according to Airbus).
Shephard on 10 September reported Indian government approval for the C295W procurement. No details of the contract value have been published but Shephard Defence Insight expects it to be worth around $2.5 billion.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![M-345 officially enters service as trainer for Italian Air Force]()
M-345 officially enters service as trainer for Italian Air Force
The Leonardo M-345 High-Efficiency Trainer (HET) basic/advanced trainer is similar to the M-346, which is the second part of the Italian Air Force’s training system, but is a substantially smaller and less powerful aircraft.
-
![Belgium’s F-35A order progresses at it awaits first jet delivery by late 2025]()
Belgium’s F-35A order progresses at it awaits first jet delivery by late 2025
The first aircraft delivery timeline confirmation comes as Belgium weighs up an additional F-3A buy from Lockheed Martin.
-
![Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance]()
Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance
New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.
-
![Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training]()
Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training
In Conversation... Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to CAE's Marc-Olivier Sabourin about how the training and simulation industry can help militaries achieve essential levels of readiness by leveraging new technology, innovative procurement methods and a truly collaborative approach.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution
The solution, named HTeaming, has already been tested in flight with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and an Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
