Govt Working To Make India Aviation Hub, Says Modi After Inaugurating TATA-Airbus Plant With Spanish PM

Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft at TATA advanced systems limited (TASL) Campus in Vadodara on Monday (Oct 28).

This facility will be the first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India. Under the C-295 programme, a total of 56 aircraft are planned. As many as 16 of these aircraft will be delivered directly by Airbus from Spain and the remaining 40 will be assembled locally at the Tata facility.

Modi remembers late Ratan Tata, hails initiative

During the inauguration of the facility, PM Modi said the Indian government was working to make the country an aviation hub. “This ecosystem will pave the way for Made in India civil aircraft in the future. Various Indian airlines have placed orders for 1200 new aircraft… this factory is going to play a major role in the design and manufacturing of civil aircraft to meet the future needs of India and the world,” he added. Modi also remembered late Ratan Tata during the inauguration, saying that the departed soul would have been happy to see the development.

Why is this facility a milestone?

According to reports, the C-295 manufacturing initiative aims to build a comprehensive aerospace ecosystem within India. It will cover all stages in an aircraft’s lifecycle—from management of aircraft assembly, testing, qualification, delivery to maintenance.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh had lauded the project, calling it a “very special day” for Indian aerospace.  “The C-295 project is a major achievement for the Indian private sector, as it is the first project of its kind where a complete military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. The project will give a significant boost to India’s expanding aerospace ecosystem,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Tata aerospace complex: Know the deal with Spain

In September 2021, India’s Defence Ministry had inked a Rs 21,935 crore contract with Airbus Defense and Space SA to purchase 56 C-295 transport aircraft. According to the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft from Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured at the new Tata facility in Vadodara. So far, Airbus has delivered six aircraft, reports claimed. With all deliveries expected by 2031, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will become the world’s largest C-295 operator.

Significance of C-295 aircraft

Set to replace the Indian Air Force’s ageing Avro-748 fleet, C-295 aircraft is a medium tactical transport aircraft designed for multiple roles, including cargo and personnel transport, parachute operations, electronic signals intelligence (ELINT), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and maritime patrol. It has a load capacity of 5–10 tonnes. It has an endurance of up to 11 hours and can be operated in various climates, for both day and night operations.

Spanish PM’s visit to India

PM Sanchez is the first Spanish leader to have visited India in 18 years. Along with Narendra Modi, he led a 2.5 km joint roadshow from the airport to the TASL facility in Vadodara, with cultural performances along the way. After the inauguration of the facility,  Modi and Sanchez will meet at Laxmi Vilas Palace for a bilateral meeting over lunch.