The first C295 for the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a significant milestone towards its delivery in the second half of 2023.
As reported by Airbus Defence, the tactical aircraft took off from Seville, Spain, on May 5 at 11:45 local time (GMT+1) and landed at 14:45, after a 3-hour flight.
✅ Engine run
✅ Painting
✅ First flight
The 1️⃣st #C295 for #India ???????? successfully completed its maiden flight! ???? This significant milestone further clears the way for delivery before end of the year.Read the press release for more ℹ️ : https://t.co/W6u53TCjUS@IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/YjggKdwZbK
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) May 8, 2023
“This first flight represents a significant accomplishment for the first Make in India aerospace programme. With the Indian Air Force set to become the largest operator of the C295 in the world, this programme exemplifies our commitment to improve the Indian Air Force (IAF) operational capabilities,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space.
India acquired 56 C295 aircraft in September 2021 to replace the (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet. The first 16 aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain, and delivered to the customer in ‘fly-away’ condition. The following 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies. .
This programme will significantly contribute to developing the country’s military industrial ecosystem from the manufacturing to assembly, testing, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle 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 class.
Training for #IAF pilots commences on #C295MW #aircraft at #Airbus International Training Centre Seville, #Spain. pic.twitter.com/tLWseHiFbJ
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) May 2, 2023
It should also be noted that the first Indian crews of the IAF’s C295s are already undergoing training at the Airbus facilities in Seville (Spain).
 on May 5 at 11:45 local time (GMT+1) and landed at 14:45, after a 3-hour flight.){kind=link}