The Indian Air Force’s transport fleet renewal is advancing faster than expected, with the first India‑assembled C‑295 aircraft nearly complete at Tata’s Vadodara plant. The facility, inaugurated in October 2024 by PM Modi and Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez, is central to the $3.5 billion Airbus deal signed in 2021 for 56 aircraft—16 delivered from Spain, 40 built in India by 2031. A second $3.1 billion order adds 15 more airframes, split between the Navy (9) and Coast Guard (6). The C‑295, capable of lifting 9,000 kg versus the An‑32’s 6,700 kg, is positioned to replace the IAF’s aging An‑32 fleet, inducted in the 1980s and vital for Himalayan operations. Further IAF orders are anticipated as retirements loom.