India's Airborne Capabilities to Strengthen with 15 New Airbus C-295 Aircraft by 2025
The Indian Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard are preparing to enhance their tactical transport capacities with the upcoming addition of 15 C-295MW aircraft. This allocation will see nine aircraft designated for the Indian Navy and six for the Coast Guard, complementing the existing fleet of the Indian Air Force, which began receiving the C-295 in 2023.
Defence officials have indicated that commercial proposals for the marine version of the C-295 should be submitted by December 2025. This development follows the Defence Acquisition Council's approval of the Acceptance of Necessity, with a Request for Proposal previously issued in March of this year.
The C-295MW aircraft production is taking place in Vadodara, Gujarat, as part of a significant joint venture between Airbus and the Tata consortium. The facility, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Spanish President in 2023, represents India's inaugural indigenous military aircraft production by a private enterprise. While 16 of these aircraft are being constructed in Spain, the remaining 40 are slated for production in India.
The Indian Air Force has already taken delivery of 15 out of the 56 aircraft ordered in a 2021 agreement. The first C-295 squadron has been established at the Vadodara facility, with the first aircraft made in India expected to be delivered by August 2026.
Capable of transporting between 5 to 10 tons of cargo, the C-295 can carry 70 soldiers or 50 fully-equipped paratroopers. It features a rear ramp for paradropping and can be adapted to carry 24 stretchers for medical evacuations. With a maximum flight duration of 11 hours, a top speed of 480 km/h, and the ability to operate on short runways, it is suited for high-altitude and tactical missions, including those along the Line of Actual Control with China.
The C-295 is set to replace the ageing Avro fleet, with other aircraft like the AN-32 and IL-76 to follow suit. The AN-32 is scheduled for retirement beginning in 2032. In anticipation, the Indian Air Force has released a Request for Information for a new medium transport aircraft to succeed the AN-32 in future operations.
