Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spain’s Pedro Sanchez have inaugurated the Tata-Airbus factory, which will produce India’s first military aircraft (Airbus C-295 transport military aircraft) built by a private company.
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The Tata Aircraft Complex in Gujarat state will produce Airbus C-295 transport military aircraft in collaboration with Airbus Spain.
Highlighting the commitment to eradicating unaccounted delays in project planning and execution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminisced about the establishment of the Bombardier train coach manufacturing facility in Vadodara during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
On Monday, Prime Minister Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata Aircraft Complex, dedicated to the production of C295 aircraft in Vadodara.
Modi remarked that the collaboration between India and Spain is charting a new course, asserting that this project would not only enhance bilateral relations but also propel the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiative.
He extended his best wishes to the teams at Airbus and Tata, while also honoring the legacy of the late Ratan Tata. The Airbus C295, a medium tactical transport aircraft, was designed and initially produced by the Spanish aerospace firm CASA, now part of Airbus Defence and Space. This aircraft is versatile, capable of performing medical evacuations, disaster response, and maritime patrol operations.
During the event, Modi and Sanchez toured an exhibition that highlighted the facility’s capabilities.
Modi described the C295 aircraft factory as a testament to the evolving work culture of New India, noting that the rapid transition from concept to execution can be observed at this site, where the foundation stone was laid in October 2022. He reiterated the importance of eliminating unaccounted delays in project management, recalling the establishment of the Bombardier train coach manufacturing facility in Vadodara from his time as Chief Minister.
Metro coaches produced at the factory are currently being exported, Modi stated, expressing optimism that the aircraft manufactured at the facility inaugurated on Monday will also be exported.
Citing the renowned Spanish poet Antonio Machado, Modi remarked, “As we begin to pursue our objectives, the pathway to those objectives is naturally formed.” He emphasized that India’s defense manufacturing sector is reaching new heights, asserting that without decisive actions taken a decade ago, achieving this milestone would have been unfeasible. Modi noted that ten years prior, the focus of defense manufacturing was predominantly on imports, and it was unimaginable that such extensive defense production could occur in India.
“Our government chose to embark on a new trajectory and establish new aspirations for India, the outcomes of which are clearly visible today,” he stated.
The evolution of India’s defense industry illustrates how a well-conceived strategy and collaboration can transform potential into prosperity, Modi remarked. He underscored the importance of skill development and job creation, indicating that initiatives like the Tata-Airbus factory will generate thousands of employment opportunities. He mentioned that the factory will facilitate the domestic production of 18,000 aircraft components, offering significant prospects for MSMEs throughout India.
Modi highlighted that India ranks among the largest suppliers of components for leading global aircraft manufacturers, adding that the new aircraft factory will significantly enhance the development of new skills and industries within the country.
Emphasizing the “unprecedented growth and transformation” of India’s aviation sector over the past decade, Modi noted that the government is enhancing air connectivity to numerous small cities while simultaneously striving to establish India as a center for aviation and MRO activities. He stated that this ecosystem will lay the groundwork for the future production of civil aircraft under the “Made in India” initiative. Modi also pointed out that various Indian airlines have placed orders for 1,200 new aircraft, asserting that the newly inaugurated factory will play a crucial role in the design and manufacturing of civil aircraft to fulfill the demands of both India and the global market.
Modi also acknowledged Father Carlos Valles, a Spanish-Indian Jesuit priest and author, who dedicated five decades of his life to India and wrote numerous books on mathematics in Gujarati.
According to Modi, Father Valles significantly enriched Indian culture through his intellectual contributions and writings, and the Indian government recognized his efforts by awarding him the Padma Shri.
As part of the C295 program, a total of 56 aircraft are scheduled for delivery, with 16 being supplied directly by Airbus from Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, as stated in an official release. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez have inaugurated the first private military aircraft manufacturing facility in India, which enhances New Delhi’s aspirations to expand local production within its defense and aerospace sectors.
Sanchez was greeted in India on Monday with a flower-adorned open-top parade alongside Modi, as Madrid aims to increase investment in the world’s fifth-largest economy. The two leaders waved to the enthusiastic crowds from a flower-covered vehicle while proceeding to inaugurate the aircraft factory, a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus, located in Vadodara, Gujarat, Modi’s home state, where hundreds of supporters cheered and displayed banners.
This marks the first visit by a Spanish prime minister to India in 18 years. Modi previously visited Spain in 2017 and engaged in discussions with Sanchez during the G20 summits in 2018 and 2021. In 2021, India’s Ministry of Defence finalized a $2.5 billion agreement for 56 cargo and troop-carrying C-295 aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space. Of these, 16 will be assembled in Seville, Spain, with the first deliveries having occurred last year, while the remaining 40 will be produced in India.
The Vadodara facility is expected to complete the first “Made in India” C-295 aircraft by 2026. This aircraft can transport up to 71 soldiers or 50 paratroopers and is designed to reach remote areas. It is also suitable for medical evacuations and can assist in disaster response and maritime patrol operations.
