Airbus, in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), has inaugurated its first aircraft final assembly line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat, marking a significant step in India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities. The facility is dedicated to producing C295 military transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and is the first complete production system for an Airbus aircraft located outside of Airbus' primary manufacturing countries. This project aligns with the Indian government’s 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat' initiative to boost domestic production in strategic industries.
The assembly line is set to produce 40 of the 56 C295 aircraft that Airbus is contracted to deliver to the IAF, replacing the aging Avro fleet. The IAF has already received six aircraft from Airbus' facility in Seville, Spain, with the remaining deliveries from Vadodara expected to be completed by 2031. The Vadodara line follows a similar assembly process to Airbus’ San Pablo FAL in Spain, featuring a "Pulse Line" production method that divides the assembly into sequential stations, each handling specific tasks.
The C295s manufactured in India will include an indigenous self-protection suite for military use, featuring radar warning systems, missile warning sensors, and countermeasure dispensers. Airbus has digitized the production process to ensure that the Vadodara facility meets the same quality standards as other Airbus lines.
Airbus reports that approximately 13,000 detailed parts for the C295 are being produced in Nagpur, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. These parts are assembled into major components at a Main Component Assembly (MCA) site in Hyderabad before shipment to the Vadodara FAL for final assembly. Airbus completed the MCA phase in 36 months and aims to finish the remaining phases within the next two years.
In addition to production, Airbus is facilitating training for IAF crews, with an initial batch trained at the Seville site and an additional 150 personnel to be trained at a new flight simulator in Agra. The first domestically assembled C295 is projected to roll out of the Vadodara facility by September 2026.
The Indian C295 programme is part of Airbus’ broader industrial plans in India, which also include a recently inaugurated regional headquarters in New Delhi, a training center, and a planned final assembly line for H125 helicopters with Tata.
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