Officials with knowledge of the situation stated on Saturday that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken delivery of its second C-295 aircraft from Airbus in Spain, and that the ₹21,935-crore project to upgrade the IAF’s transport fleet is progressing at the intended rate.

According to sources, the plane is scheduled to land in the nation on May 6. Last September, at a ceremony held at the Hindan air base, the IAF chief air chief marshal, VR Chaudhari, along with other high-ranking officials, welcomed the force’s first C-295 cargo aircraft.

To increase defence self-reliance, the defence ministry signed a ₹21,935-crore contract with Airbus in September 2021 for 56 aircraft. The programme is being jointly implemented by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. The aircraft from Europe

The aircraft will replace the air force’s old fleet of Avro transports, which went into service in the early 1960s, and improve its logistical capacity to meet mission requirements in forward regions.

As previously reported, the first “made in India” C-295 will leave the Vadodara factory in September 2026, and the remaining 39 by August 2031. The final 16 flyaway aircraft will be delivered to the IAF by August 2025.