Transall

It was later operated by French aerospace company Aérospatiale and German aircraft manufacturers Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW) and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB).

The Italian government also became involved in the project early on to meet their own air force's requirements; however, Italy's participation in the fledgling program was soon terminated in favour of the smaller and locally-built Fiat G.222 instead.

[5] Production orders were delayed by the unsuccessful efforts of American defence company Lockheed to sell its C-130 Hercules transport to the German Air Force as an alternative to the C-160.

[7] Production work for this batch was split 50-50 between French aerospace company Aérospatiale (the successor to Nord) and Germany aviation firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) (which had absorbed VFW and HFB), while all aircraft were completed at a single assembly line in Toulouse.

Changes from earlier aircraft include the cargo loading door on the port side of the fuselage being replaced by provision for additional fuel tanks in the wing centre section, as well as the installation of updated and improved avionics.