India's First Made-in-India Airbus C295 Takes to the Skies in Historic Maiden Flight

In a significant milestone for India's aerospace and defence manufacturing sector, the first Made-in-India Airbus C295 military transport aircraft has successfully completed its maiden test flight from the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat.

The successful test flight marks a crucial achievement in the aircraft's post-production testing phase and brings the programme one step closer to delivering the first India-manufactured C295 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) later this year.

The Airbus C295 programme is a landmark initiative under the Government of India's Make in India vision and represents the first instance of a military aircraft being manufactured in India by the private sector.

Exciting to see the first Made in India Airbus C295 complete its maiden test flight from Vadodara.

This is more than just an aircraft taking to the skies, it is also a reflection of India’s growing capabilities in aerospace manufacturing and our journey towards becoming a global… pic.twitter.com/tGWSZippgF

— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 11, 2026

The project is being executed through a partnership between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), supported by a growing network of Indian MSMEs contributing components and systems across the country.

A total of 40 C295 aircraft will be manufactured in India at the Vadodara facility, strengthening the nation's indigenous defence production capabilities and boosting the domestic aerospace ecosystem.

Airbus Defence stated that the successful maiden flight reflects the dedication and collaborative efforts of Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, and numerous Indian industry partners involved in the programme.

The company also expressed gratitude to the Indian Air Force, the Ministry of Defence, and the Government of India for their continued support and confidence in the project.

With the successful completion of this test flight, the C295 programme continues to advance India's ambitions of becoming a global aerospace manufacturing hub while reinforcing self-reliance in defence production.