Vadodara, Oct 28 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL)-Airbus facility for manufacturing C-295 military aircraft in India on Monday. This facility marks the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in the country.
During the inauguration, Modi emphasized that the facility will not only enhance the India-Spain relationship but also support the mission of “Make in India, Make for the World.” He added that aircraft produced at this facility would also be exported in the future. Modi expressed optimism that the ecosystem developed here could pave the way for India to manufacture civil aircraft as well.
Sanchez announced that the first aircraft is expected to be ready for rollout from the facility in 2026.
In September 2021, India secured a deal worth nearly Rs 21,000 crore with Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft, aimed at replacing the aging Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force. This project involves the first instance of a private company manufacturing military aircraft in India.
As per the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its assembly line in Seville, Spain, within four years. The subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.
The Vadodara facility will encompass the full development of a complete ecosystem, including manufacture, assembly, testing, qualification, delivery, and maintenance for the entire life cycle of the aircraft. Besides Tata, leading defense public sector units like Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics, along with various private micro, small, and medium enterprises, will contribute to this program.
Modi laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara final assembly line in October 2022. Earlier in the day, the two leaders participated in a roadshow covering a 2.5-km stretch from the airport to the Tata Advanced Systems Limited facility.
