In a major stride for India’s aerospace and defence sector, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus have inaugurated the Final Assembly Line (FAL) complex for the Airbus C295 aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat. The state-of-the-art facility was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spain’s President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, with Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn present to mark the event.
This pioneering ‘Make in India’ initiative by TASL and Airbus aims to deliver 56 C295 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF), with 40 of these being manufactured and assembled locally in Vadodara, while the remaining 16 will be delivered in a ‘fly-away’ condition from Airbus’ Seville, Spain assembly line. With six aircraft already delivered, the project promises a substantial boost to the Indian Government’s ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) programme and represents the first aircraft assembly line established by the private sector in India.
“The Tata Group is very proud in setting up this advanced facility which will manufacture the nation’s first private defence aircraft from the ground up. It will significantly enhance both defence and advanced manufacturing capabilities,” said N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons expressing gratitude for the support from the Prime Minister and international leaders.
Michael Schoellhorn, CEO, Airbus Defence and Space highlighted the landmark achievement, stating, “The inauguration of this final assembly line (FAL) is a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The C295 India programme demonstrates Airbus’ commitment to supporting India’s vision of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ in defence manufacturing. Aligned to this vision, this FAL will propel the advancement of the aerospace industrial ecosystem in the country, unlocking the potential for cutting-edge design, component manufacturing, aircraft assembly and services capabilities across the Indian value chain.”
Operations have already started in TASL’s Main Component Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad, where parts for the C295 aircraft are being produced and shipped to the Vadodara FAL. The first C295 aircraft produced under the ‘Make in India’ initiative is expected to roll out in 2026, and the project will scale up to deliver the 40 contracted units by 2031.
India’s acquisition of 56 C295 aircraft positions it as the largest customer for the model. The C295 ‘Make in India’ programme will see more than 85 per cent of structural and final assembly of 40 aircraft completed in India, as well as the production of 13,000 parts domestically. Airbus has onboarded 37 India-based suppliers and certified 21 special processes, ensuring an extensive Indian contribution to the programme.
Airbus continues to expand its industrial footprint in India with initiatives across component manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), as well as collaborations in training and education.