New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally inducted the first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday.

Singh inducted the transport aircraft into the IAF in the presence of Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and other top military officials at Air Force Station, Hindan in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Defence Minister said that the induction of C-295 will bolster the medium-lift tactical capability of the IAF.

“The defence and aerospace sectors are the two important pillars for making India self-reliant in the coming years,” he said.

This medium-lift tactical aircraft, which is capable of taking off and landing from unprepared landing grounds, will replace the HS-748 Avro aircraft.

The Defence Ministry said the first 16 of the 56 contracted aircraft would be delivered to the IAF in a 'fly-away' condition, and the remaining 40 would be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited at their facility in Vadodara.

The first IAF squadron equipped with the aircraft, 11 Squadron (The Rhinos), is also based at Vadodara.

During the event, Singh inaugurated, “Bharat Drone Shakti 202”, a first-of-its-kind drone exhibition cum display at the Air Force Station.

The exhibition has been jointly organised by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Drone Federation of India (DFI).

As per the Defence Ministry, the two-day event will feature over 75 drone start-ups nationwide.