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The Transall company (Transport Allianz group) comprising Aérospatiale and MBB (which have since become EADS) started developing the Transall C-160 in 1959 to replace the French and German air forces’ Noratlas. The Transall is basically a twin turboprop transport with a medium radius of action that can take off and land on unprepared strips. The C-160 was the first Franco-German European aircraft program.

The French version of the Transall is the C 160 F, and is a key element in the current French strategic deployment air force. The first series (with serial numbers below 200) was manufactured between 1968 and 1972. Four of these aircraft were assigned to the postal service for some fifteen years and were re-dubbed C-160 P in this role. A second "New Generation" series (C 160 F "NG" with serial numbers above 200) was launched in the eighties. The main difference from the first series was that there was no side loading door, and additional tanks were added along with an in-flight refuelling system with fixed fittings for the tanker kit in ten of the aircraft. Some of the aircraft in this series were converted for special roles. These were the Transall Gabriel (C 160 G) and Transall Astarte (C 160 H).

A mid-life update program was undertaken in the 1990s to fit the aircraft with digital avionics and a night vision goggle capability. The updated aircraft were re-designated C 160 R. Another program was to equip part of the fleet with a self-protection system (armour, RWR, missile arrival, flares).

The tactical and logistic transport versions of the Transall C 160 (and the Hercules C 130) have been in service for more than 30 years and will probably be withdrawn between 2005 and 2015. They will be replaced by the A400M transport (initially known as the ATF, for "Future Transport Aircraft") that is intended to equip the European tactical transport fleet.