On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, officially launched the TATA Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, marking a transformative milestone in India’s defense manufacturing sector. The facility will serve as the production hub for the C-295 military transport aircraft, representing India’s first private-sector final assembly line (FAL) dedicated to military aircraft.
Prime Minister Modi warmly welcomed his Spanish counterpart and underscored the importance of the occasion, saying, “This is my good friend Pedro Sanchez’s first visit to India, and today, we are advancing the India-Spain partnership by inaugurating the C-295 production facility. This state-of-the-art factory will not only enhance our bilateral ties but will also play a critical role in realizing the vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World.’” He stressed that the project is a significant step forward in India’s push for greater self-reliance in defense manufacturing and will significantly bolster the nation’s domestic industrial capabilities.
Following the inauguration, the two leaders participated in an engaging roadshow through Vadodara, where they traveled in an open jeep from the airport to the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus. The roadshow allowed them to interact with locals, further reinforcing the connection between the leadership and the people, and highlighting the event’s broad impact on both the community and the nation.
The C-295 program involves the delivery of 56 aircraft, with 16 units to be imported directly from Airbus in Spain. The remaining 40 aircraft will be assembled in India at the Tata Advanced Systems facility, marking India’s first private-sector assembly line for military aircraft. This collaboration is not only set to strengthen India’s defense manufacturing capabilities but also positions the country as a significant player in the global aerospace industry.
Prime Minister Sanchez expressed his admiration for the partnership, saying, “Today, we are inaugurating more than just a cutting-edge industrial facility; we are witnessing the culmination of a remarkable collaboration between two iconic companies. Prime Minister Modi, this milestone further exemplifies your vision of transforming India into a global industrial leader and a prime destination for international investment.”
In a poignant moment, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to the late Ratan Tata, acknowledging his lasting legacy: “We have lost a great son of India, Ratan Tata ji. If he were here today, he would have been immensely proud of this achievement. His spirit lives on in this factory, which embodies the new work culture of ‘New India.’ Just as we established the train coach factory in Vadodara during my tenure as Gujarat CM, I am confident that the aircraft produced here will soon be exported to global markets, solidifying India’s place on the world stage.”