Gandhinagar/Vadodara, June 11 (IANS) The first Airbus C295 military transport aircraft to be manufactured in India completed its maiden test flight from the Final Assembly Line in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s defence manufacturing ambitions and the development of a domestic aerospace production ecosystem.

The aircraft is the first of 40 C295 transport planes that will be built in India under the Airbus-Tata partnership.

Airbus Defence and Space said the successful flight represented a crucial stage in the post-production testing process and moved the programme closer to its goal of delivering the first Indian-manufactured C295 to the Indian Air Force later this year.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Airbus Defence and Space described the flight as “a milestone for Indian aviation and defence”, adding that the programme was the first instance of a military aircraft being manufactured in India by the private sector.

The company said the progress achieved so far reflected the work of Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems Limited and numerous micro, small and medium enterprises across the country that are producing aircraft components.

The company thanked the Indian Air Force, the Ministry of Defence and the Central government for their support and confidence in the programme, stating that it was helping build the future of India’s aerospace industry.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel hailed the development as “a proud milestone for Gujarat and India”.

In a post, he said the successful maiden test flight of the first “Made in India” Airbus C295 military transport aircraft from Vadodara was a significant step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India’.

“With Gujarat emerging as a key hub for advanced manufacturing and aerospace, this achievement reflects India’s growing capabilities in defence production and innovation,” CM Patel said.

He congratulated Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems and all stakeholders associated with the project.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also welcomed the achievement, calling it “a moment of pride for India”. He said the successful flight of the aircraft assembled in Vadodara represented “history in the making”.

“From Gujarat soil to India’s skies, Atmanirbhar Bharat is no longer just a vision, it’s a reality,” Sanghavi said in his post.

The C295 programme is one of India’s most prominent defence manufacturing projects and forms part of broader efforts to increase indigenous production capabilities while reducing dependence on imported military equipment.

The Vadodara facility, established through the Airbus-Tata partnership, serves as the final assembly line for aircraft that will be supplied to the Indian Air Force as part of a major fleet modernisation programme.

The successful test flight is expected to be followed by further evaluation and certification activities before the aircraft enters service, with the first Indian-built C295 scheduled for delivery later this year.

–IANS

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