Airbus-Tata partnership boosts India aerospace production

Indian Air Force’s growing needs driving increased orders, source says

In 2021, India ordered 56 C-295 aircraft from Airbus-Tata

NEW DELHI/PARIS, Feb 28 (Reuters) – India is in talks to purchase 10 more Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft than the 71 it had planned, as the country ramps up efforts to replace its ageing fleet with locally built planes, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The discussions come as a boost for Airbus partnership with Indian conglomerate Tata Group after they jointly opened an assembly line for the C-295 in the western state of Gujarat last year. 

India’s government in 2021 struck a $2.52 billion deal for 56 C-295 aircraft for the Air Force, and last year gave an initial nod for 15 more for its navy and coast guard. Now, talks are on to add up to 10 aircraft to the 2024 order, said the three sources, who declined to be named as the talks are private.