Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft at the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) Campus in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The facility is part of a collaborative defence manufacturing project between India and Spain, strengthening the defence manufacturing sector in India under the “Make in India, Make for the World” initiative, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating that it not only deepens India-Spain relations but also aligns with India’s aim to develop a robust manufacturing base for global defence requirements.
“The C-295 aircraft facility reflects the new work culture of a New India,” said Modi, noting the speed with which the project has moved from concept to production, with the foundation stone laid only in October 2022.
The C-295 facility marks India’s first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft. Of the 56 aircraft ordered under the C-295 programme, 16 are to be delivered by Airbus directly from Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured domestically by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd.
According to senior officials, the facility will handle the entire lifecycle, from production to maintenance, and will create significant opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across India.
Stating that the project exemplifies India’s defence sector transformation over the past decade, Modi said, “We expanded private sector participation in defence manufacturing, made public sector units more efficient, restructured ordnance factories into seven major companies, and empowered DRDO and HAL.”
PM Modi also pointed to the establishment of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which have driven growth in the sector, and mentioned the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme, which has supported 1,000 startups in defence technology.
Highlighting the job creation potential, Modi shared that the complex is expected to generate thousands of jobs and support indigenous manufacturing of approximately 18,000 aircraft parts, fostering MSMEs and new skills in India’s aviation industry.
According to a government press note, the facility is expected to contribute to India’s growing aviation sector, which has seen rapid expansion in domestic air connectivity and is preparing to meet the demands of Indian airlines with over 1,200 aircraft on order.
