Made in India Civil Aircraft India Moves Closer as Rammohan Naidu Highlights Growing Aerospace Manufacturing

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Sunday said Made in India civil aircraft are becoming a realistic goal as India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities continue to expand under the Make in India initiative. He said the country’s growing aviation manufacturing ecosystem is laying the foundation for India’s future as a global aerospace hub.

Made in India civil aircraft vision gains momentum

The minister made the remarks while sharing a video of the first India-made Airbus C-295 tactical military transport aircraft, describing it as a landmark achievement for the country’s aerospace and defence manufacturing sectors.

In a post on social media platform X, Naidu said he recently visited the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) manufacturing facility in Vadodara, where the C-295 aircraft are being produced.

“Visited the TASL facility in Vadodara, where the C-295 aircraft are being built. This remarkable facility is a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. As India strengthens its aerospace manufacturing capabilities, we are steadily moving towards a future where Indians will proudly fly in Made in India civil aircraft,” the minister said.

Airbus C-295 programme strengthens India’s aerospace industry

The C-295 programme, jointly developed by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, marks the first time a complex military aircraft is being manufactured in India by the private sector under the government’s flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The aircraft is being produced under the $2.6 billion agreement signed in 2021 for the procurement of 56 C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

While 16 aircraft are being delivered in flyaway condition from Spain, the remaining 40 are being assembled at the Vadodara facility in Gujarat.

Dholera Airport to boost India’s aviation ecosystem

According to reports, Gujarat’s upcoming Dholera Airport will also house dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities to support the C-295 fleet, further strengthening India’s aerospace ecosystem.

The first India-assembled C-295 aircraft rolled out from the final assembly line in May and successfully completed its maiden test flight on June 10.

C-295 marks a milestone for Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Following the successful flight, the Indian Air Force congratulated the teams involved, describing it as a historic milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in aerospace and defence manufacturing.

The project is widely seen as a significant step towards expanding India’s indigenous aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting the long-term vision of producing domestically manufactured civil aircraft.

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