Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Sunday, 19 July said India is steadily advancing toward a future where its citizens will travel in domestically manufactured civil aircraft, as the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities deepen under the Make in India initiative. The minister made the remarks after visiting the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, where India's first indigenously assembled military transport aircraft is taking shape.

The C-295 Milestone

The Airbus C-295 tactical military transport aircraft — produced jointly by Airbus and TASL — marks the first time a complex military aircraft has been manufactured in India by the private sector. The programme is part of a $2.6 billion agreement signed in 2021 for the procurement of 56 C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Of these, 16 aircraft are being delivered in flyaway condition from Spain, while the remaining 40 are being assembled at the Vadodara facility.

What the Minister Said

Sharing a video of the first India-made C-295 on social media platform X, Naidu described the TASL facility as a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. 'Visited the TASL facility in Vadodara, where the C-295 aircraft are being built. This remarkable facility is a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. As India strengthens its aerospace manufacturing capabilities, we are steadily moving towards a future where Indians will proudly fly in Made in India civil aircraft,' Naidu said.

Key Developments at the Vadodara Plant

The first India-assembled C-295 rolled out from the final assembly line in May and completed its maiden test flight on 10 June. Following the successful flight, the Indian Air Force congratulated the teams involved, calling it a historic milestone in India's journey toward self-reliance in aerospace and defence manufacturing. According to reports, Gujarat's upcoming Dholera Airport will also house dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities to support the C-295 fleet, further strengthening India's aerospace ecosystem.

The Broader Aerospace Push

The C-295 programme is widely seen as a proof-of-concept for India's ambition to graduate from being a buyer of defence hardware to a builder. Notably, this is the first instance of a private Indian firm — TASL, a Tata Group entity — leading final assembly of a military aircraft on Indian soil. The minister's reference to future Made in India civil aircraft signals that the government views defence manufacturing as a stepping stone toward a broader commercial aerospace ecosystem. India currently imports virtually all of its commercial aircraft, making the long-term pivot a significant industrial ambition.

What Comes Next

With the maiden test flight already completed, the programme is on track for phased deliveries to the Indian Air Force. The MRO facilities planned at Dholera are expected to reduce India's dependence on overseas maintenance infrastructure. Industry observers will watch whether the C-295 success accelerates private-sector participation in other aerospace programmes currently dominated by state-owned entities.