India's first C295 completes maiden flight in Spain successfully

In a statement, Airbus Defence and Space said that the maiden flight took off from Seville and the duration of the journey was for three hours.

New Delhi:India's first C295 has successfully completed its maiden flight from Airbus Defence facility at Seville in Spain, the Airbus Defence and Space said in a statement today. The tactical aircraft took off from Seville at 11.45 local time and the journey lasted for three hours.

“This first flight represents a significant accomplishment for the first Make in India aerospace programme. With the Indian Air Force (IAF) set to become the largest operator of the C295 in the world, this programme exemplifies our commitment to improve IAF operational capabilities,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at the Airbus Defence and Space.

In September, India acquired 56 C295 planes after the defence ministry signed a contract with the Airbus Defence and Space. The programme is being executed jointly by the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus Defence and Space. Under this, the first 16 aircrafts will be assembled in Seville and delivered by Airbus Defence and Space in flyaway condition. The remaining 40 planes will be manufactured and assembled in India.

This programme is aimed at developing the country’s military and industrial ecosystem involving manufacturing, assembling and testing, as well as delivery and maintenance of the aircraft. The C295 programme comprises a total of 280 orders from 39 operators, making it an unmatched aircraft in its weight and mission.

On October 30, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing facility for the C295 aircraft. The facility has been set up by TASL and Airbus.