Delhi’s ambitions of nurturing its defense and aerospace industries were given a significant boost on Monday by the launch of India’s first private military aircraft plant.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Spain’s leader Petro Sanchez at a road show in Gujarat state’s Vadodara city, where hundreds of people cheered and waved banners.
C-295 Transport Aircraft
The two leaders inaugurated the Tata Aircraft Complex, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility set to produce the Airbus C-295 transport aircraft. Developed in partnership with Airbus Spain, this facility will supply the Indian Air Force with advanced military transport capabilities.
Sanchez said the project was a triumph of Modi’s vision “to turn India into an industrial powerhouse and a magnet for investment and business-to-business collaboration.”
“This partnership between Airbus and Tata will contribute to the progress of the Indian aerospace industry and will open new doors for the arrival of other European companies,” he added.
Modi said “This new aircraft factory will boost new skills and new industries in India,” adding that thanks to the new plant, India was now supplying parts to many of the globe’s leading aircraft companies.
Ratan Tata’s Vision
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chair of the Tata conglomerate, celebrated the occasion as a “historic day” for India’s defense sector, attributing the vision for this milestone to the late Ratan Tata, the esteemed industrialist and former Tata chair who passed away earlier this month. Ratan Tata first conceived of the project over a decade ago.
Since assuming office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has pledged to transform India into a global manufacturing powerhouse, targeting sectors including infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and defense.
To modernize and upgrade military equipment, the Indian government has actively promoted the expansion of the private defense manufacturing sector, previously dominated by state-run enterprises. By easing foreign direct investment regulations, the administration aims to attract international companies to establish operations within India.
How Many Aircraft Will India Produce?
Under a $2.5 billion agreement finalized in 2021, Airbus committed to supplying the first 16 C-295 aircraft from its Seville, Spain, assembly line—six of which have already been delivered to the Indian Air Force.
Tata Advanced Systems Ltd will manufacture an additional 40 aircraft at its Vadodara facility, with the first Indian-made C-295 expected to be ready in 2026. This aircraft can transport up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, access remote areas, and support medical evacuations, disaster response, and maritime patrol missions.
How Close Are India and Spain?
This visit marks the first by a Spanish leader to India in 18 years. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Sanchez have previously connected at global summits in 2018 and 2021. During his two-day stay, Sanchez will engage in talks with Modi to assess the bilateral relationship and will also meet with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Bilateral trade between India and Spain reached nearly $10 billion in 2023. The Indian Foreign Ministry reports that over 200 Spanish companies are currently active in India, while around 80 Indian firms operate in Spain.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanchez will head to Mumbai, India’s financial capital and the heart of Bollywood, where he is scheduled to engage with leaders from trade and industry sectors.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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