Indian Envoy Receives Final Batch of 16 Airbus C-295 Military Aircraft in Spain

Madrid – In a significant boost to India’s defence capabilities, the final unit of the 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft was handed over to Indian Ambassador to Spain, Dinesh K. Patnaik, along with senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officials, in Seville on Saturday. The delivery took place at the Airbus Defence and Space assembly line, notably two months ahead of schedule.

"The delivery, two months ahead of schedule, marks an important milestone in strengthening India’s defence capabilities," the Embassy of India in Madrid posted on X.

In October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex at the TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus in Vadodara, Gujarat. This facility is dedicated to the manufacturing of C-295 aircraft.

Speaking at the inauguration, PM Modi highlighted that the facility would not only deepen the strategic partnership between India and Spain but also accelerate the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiative.

The Vadodara facility is India’s first private-sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft and reflects the government’s strong push for indigenous defence manufacturing.

As part of the C-295 programme, India will receive a total of 56 aircraft—16 delivered from Airbus’ Spanish plant and the remaining 40 to be manufactured domestically in India by TATA Advanced Systems.

This marks a pivotal shift toward self-reliance in defence production. The initiative aims to enhance India's operational preparedness and reduce its dependence on foreign imports.

India’s progress in defence manufacturing reflects a broader commitment to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India), transforming the country from one of the world’s largest arms importers into a rising hub for indigenous defence production.

With inputs from IANS