As part of a significant modernization effort for India’s tactical airlift and maritime security capabilities, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Navy are scheduled to introduce the Made-in-India C295 transport aircraft. This action comes after 15 C295 maritime variants—nine for the Navy and six for the Coast Guard—were the subject of a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in March 2024, with a deadline of December 2025 for commercial bid submissions.
The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) award from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, serves as the basis for the procurement procedure. When completed, these aircraft will improve the Navy and Coast Guard’s ability to conduct maritime surveillance throughout the Indian Ocean Region, conduct search and rescue operations, and deploy quickly.
The C295 is particularly well-suited for operations in coastal, island, and remote areas because to its ability to take off and land on short, makeshift airstrips. This is essential given India’s vast marine environment.
By bridging a crucial operational gap between the short-range Dornier DO-228 maritime aircraft and the long-range Boeing P-8I Poseidon, the new maritime C295 versions are expected to strengthen the multi-layered aerial surveillance regime. While the Coast Guard’s six C295s will have multi-mission configurations for a variety of security, rescue, and intelligence roles, the Navy’s nine will probably be outfitted with sonobuoys and torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship missiles for surface warfare. To support India’s defense self-reliance objectives, all variations are anticipated to be equipped with cutting-edge indigenous sensors, surveillance systems, and electronic warfare suites.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has made significant progress in acquiring the C295. The IAF has replaced Avro with 15 Spanish-built C295s after a 2021 agreement for 56 aircraft. The remaining 40 are being produced at Tata’s Vadodara plant, the first time an Indian private business has produced military aircraft in India. The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) defence plan is expected to succeed with the delivery of the first Made-in-India C295 by the end of 2026.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has made significant progress in acquiring the C295. The IAF has replaced Avro with 15 Spanish-built C295s after a 2021 agreement for 56 aircraft. The remaining 40 are being produced at Tata’s Vadodara plant, the first time an Indian private business has produced military aircraft in India. The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) defence plan is expected to succeed with the delivery of the first Made-in-India C295 by the end of 2026.
In addition to modernizing India’s tactical airlift and maritime surveillance capabilities, the choice to introduce the C295 to the Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force is viewed as a significant force multiplier that will enhance collaboration and interoperability between the services. The C295 will be crucial in transforming the Indian military into a more nimble, technologically sophisticated, and independent aerial force as it adapts to possible two-front conflict scenarios and replaces outdated platforms like the Avro, AN-32, and IL-76.