Just ahead of the much-awaited inauguration of the Tata Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez joined a vibrant roadshow. The celebration marked India’s first private-sector military aircraft production, a first in the country’s defense sector.
The roadshow journey was from the Vadodara airport to the TASL (Tata Advanced Systems Limited) facility, and in true cultural spirit, the route was lined with students, performers, and lively displays that showcased Vadodara’s unique heritage. M31GlobalNews reported that this collaboration marks an impressive leap in India’s Make in India initiative, with the facility taking on everything from manufacturing and assembly to testing and maintenance for the C-295 aircraft.
The facility was inaugurated on the occasion of a landmark agreement worth ₹21,935 crores that the Indian government signed with European aircraft behemoth Airbus in September 2021 for a total of 56 C-295 transport aircraft. Of these, 16 were delivered directly to the company by Airbus and the remaining 40 are to be assembled in Vadodara. In the new era of Indian military manufacturing, TASL would share its expertise with Airbus, under the joint venture.
The facility itself is a project of years in the making, one that PM Modi himself laid its foundation stone in October 2022, and today will deliver its first India-made C-295 in 2026. India’s very own Air Force has already inducted its first C-295 in September 2023 and will eventually be the world’s largest operator of this model by 2025.
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Besides Airbus and TASL, key Indian defense units like BEL and BDL will support the program. A micro, small, and medium enterprise is also being inducted. For example, all 56 aircraft will be fitted with indigenous electronic warfare systems by BEL and BDL. This is a great effort to strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem with indigenous technology and expertise.
The planes are versatile enough to carry nine tonnes of payload or up to 71 troops. They are thus ideal for a variety of military operations, including paradropping troops and transporting cargo from rough, short airstrips. Such versatility makes the C-295 a very important asset for the Indian Air Force, especially as it is replacing an aging fleet of Avro aircraft that have been in service since the 1960s.
This project will be interesting in the depth that Indian industries are engaging to manufacture more than 13,000 parts, sub-assemblies, and major components within India. With major engines, landing gears, and avionics going into this aircraft provided by Airbus, the airplane itself is an all-around triumph for India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
Tomorrow, 28th October, is going to be a very special day for the Indian Aerospace industry.
PM Shri @narendramodi , along with his Spanish counterpart Mr. @sanchezcastejon will jointly inaugurate the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft in Vadodara.
The… pic.twitter.com/44oApxLiko
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 27, 2024In an X post, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also opined on the occasion: “It is indeed a landmark achievement for India’s private sector that they will manufacture their first-ever military aircraft for the country through the C-295 project, and that will bring in India as a new player in global aerospace.
Both Modi and Sanchez, who plan to visit Mumbai before returning to Spain, are going to take a tour of the C-295 facility, meeting at the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara. The visit will culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in order to further fortify the strategic partnership between India and Spain. As M31GlobalNews puts it, this is the venture that not only strengthens the relations of India with Spain but also depicts India as the growing state in defense manufacturing worldwide.
Minutes by M31GlobalNews
