‘Truly special’: Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu shares glimpses of first Made-in-India C-295 military aircraft | Today’s news
Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Saturday visited the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, where the Made-in-India C-295 military transport aircraft is being built. “To see India building such aircraft at home is truly exceptional,” Naidu said in a post on X.
According to the aviation minister, “as India strengthens its aerospace manufacturing capabilities, we are steadily moving towards a future where Indians will be proud to fly Made in India civil aircraft”.
Earlier on Tuesday, Naidu said around 80 percent of construction work at the upcoming Dholera International Airport near Ahmedabad has been completed, adding that Tata Group’s upcoming semiconductor facility and Airbus’ defense partnership will directly benefit from dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangars at the site.
These hangars will support MRO operations of India’s first military transport aircraft, the C-295, he said.
Airbus C-295
The Airbus C-295 is a twin-engine turboprop medium-range tactical transport aircraft. In 2021, India signed a $2.6 billion contract with Airbus to buy 56 C-295 aircraft to replace its aging Avro-748 fleet.
As part of the deal, the first 16 C-295 aircraft were delivered directly from the Airbus plant in Seville, Spain, and the remaining 40 are being assembled by TASL in India.
Made in India C-295
In May, TASL rolled out its first C-295 aircraft from the final assembly line of the Vadodara facility and successfully completed its first test flight on 10
According to Airbus, the successful test flight represents a major step forward in the C-295 India program and supports the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative.
Calling the project a “game changer”, Airbus Defense said: “The C295 India program is a game changer in the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ vision, and is the first example of private sector production of a military aircraft in India.” The progress in the program reflects the steady and dedicated work of Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems Limited and several aircraft parts manufacturers in India.”
During his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast on June 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited the maiden flight of the Indian-made C-295 aircraft, which will boost aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
Modi noted that the country has achieved great success in the aviation sector.
Noting that the C-295 aircraft was manufactured in India, he said, “up to 40 such aircraft are being built right here in India and this is giving new strength to the MSME and aviation sector”.
According to him, it will also increase job opportunities.
