On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez officially opened the TATA-Airbus aircraft assembly facility complex in Vadodara.
The facility will produce C-295 military aircraft at the TATA Advanced Systems Limited campus.
During the inauguration, PM Modi highlighted the significance of the C-295 facility, emphasizing that it embodies the evolving work culture of a ‘New India’.
PM Modi stated, “Recently, we lost the country’s great son Ratan Tata ji. If he had been among us today, he would have been happy, but wherever his soul is, he would be happy. This C-295 aircraft factory reflects the new work culture of New India.”
“Today, we are exporting the metro coaches manufactured in that factory to other countries. I am confident that in the future, the aircraft made in this factory will also be exported to other countries,” PM further added.
The Prime Minister further articulated the advancements in India’s defense manufacturing sector. He noted that substantial groundwork laid a decade ago has paved the way for today’s achievements.
PM Modi asserted, “Today the defense manufacturing ecosystem in India is touching new heights. If we had not taken concrete steps 10 years ago, it would have been impossible to reach this level today. At that time, no one could even imagine that there could be such large-scale defense manufacturing in India. But we decided to walk on the new path, set a new goal for ourselves. And today the result is before us.”
Spanish President Pedro Sanchez stressed the significance of this new industrial site. He framed it as a vital step in the collaboration between Airbus and Tata.
President Sanchez remarked, “Today we are not only officially inaugurating a cutting-edge industrial facility. Today we’re also witnessing how an extraordinary project between two emblematic companies becomes a reality. Prime Minister Modi, this is another triumph of your vision. Your vision is to turn India into an industrial powerhouse and a magnet for investment and business. 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.”
President Sanchez further lauded Tata as a quintessential representation of Indian industrial prowess, with a presence in nearly every country.
“Tata is probably the best exponent of Indian industrial strength. Its products and services are present in virtually every country on the planet. Tata is a giant among giants. As for Airbus, it embodies the very essence of a united Europe. Committed to technological innovation and the creation of jobs and prosperity. For my country, for Spain, being an integral part of the Airbus consortium, defending the values it represents. Values on which the very idea of Europe is based on cooperation, modernity and progress,” President Sanchez said.
Additionally, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran elaborated on the facility’s objectives. He announced plans to deliver the first indigenously manufactured aircraft within two years.
N Chandrasekaran asserted, “The final aircraft assembly complex for the first aircraft to be delivered is being set up here. I must commit to our Prime Minister that exactly two years from now we will deliver the first indigenously manufactured aircraft and we will request and we’ll work with your office to block the date so that you can come and inaugurate the facility and receive the first product.”
“The first 200 engineers from Tata Group are already in Spain going through the training that is required, and we have worked with 40 SME companies and we will be adding more companies to build the entire localisation that is required for the product,” he noted.
This collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus marks a historic moment as it establishes India’s first private sector final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft, enhancing the nation’s aerospace capabilities.
The government signed a Rs 2,500 crore agreement in 2021 to acquire 56 C-295 military transport aircraft from Airbus.
Under the contract, Airbus will provide 16 aircraft directly from Spain, while the remaining 40 will be assembled in India by TASL.
The initiative aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem for aircraft development that includes assembly, testing, certification, and maintenance throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle.
The project also involves contributions from major Indian defense companies like Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL), alongside various smaller firms.
The C-295 aircraft is likely to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Air Force with a modern and reliable transport option.
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