Watch: PM Modi, Spain PM Sanchez inaugurate India’s first private military aircraft plant in Vadodara

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez on Monday (October 28, 2024) inaugurated the Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL)-Airbus facility to manufacture C-295 military aircraft in India.

The Tata-Airbus facility is the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India.

On the occasion, PM Modi said the facility will not only strengthen India-Spain relationship, but also “boost our mission of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.

“The aircraft manufactured at this facility will be exported as well in future,” he said.

PM Modi, Spain PM in Gujarat LIVE

PM Modi also expressed hope that the ecosystem created by this manufacturing facility will help India manufacture civil aircraft in future.

PM Sanchez said the first aircraft will be ready to roll out from this facility in 2026.

In September 2021, India sealed a nearly ₹21,000 crore deal with the Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the ageing Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force, under a project that entails manufacturing of military aircraft in India for the first time by a private company.

Under the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, within four years.

Also Read : India to procure 15 more C-295 aircraft; 12 to be built at home

The subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the TASL in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

The facility here will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem, from manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete life cycle of the aircraft.

Apart from the Tatas, leading defence public sector units, such as Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics, as well as private micro, small and medium enterprises will contribute to this programme, a release earlier said.

PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara final assembly line in October 2022.

Earlier, the two leaders led a roadshow on a 2.5-km stretch from the airport to the Tata Advanced Systems Limited facility in the morning.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reached India on Monday (October 28, 2024), as informed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) before. According to MEA, the Spanish PM will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give a boost to bilateral ties.

Also read: Spanish PM Sanchez arrives in Vadodara for India visit

Mr. Sanchez and PM Modi are set to jointly inaugurate the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) facility in Vadodara, which is the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India. The 2.5 km roadshow from the airport to the Tata facility will have cultural shows en route.

Also read: India to procure 15 more C-295 aircraft; 12 to be built at home

PM Pedro Sanchez and PM Modi will visit the historic Laxmi Vilas Palace, where they will hold a bilateral meeting organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). According to the schedule given by the MEA Mr. Sanchez will leave for Spain at around 12.30 a.m. Wednesday (October 30, 2024).

Follow the live blog for further updates: