Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 military transport aircraft at TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in Vadodara, Gujarat, on October 28, 2024. This project, a collaboration between Airbus and TATA, marks a milestone in India’s defense manufacturing and strengthens Indo-Spanish relations.
During his address, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the partnership’s alignment with India’s “Make in India, Make for the World” mission. He expressed pride in the swift completion of the facility, referencing its foundation laid in October 2022, and acknowledged the efforts of the teams from Airbus and TATA, also paying tribute to the late Ratan Tata.
“This facility reflects New India’s fast-paced work culture, where project planning and execution are prioritized to eliminate delays,” PM Modi said, drawing parallels to the Bombardier Train Coach facility he established in Vadodara during his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister. He underscored the national export potential of the C-295 aircraft, predicting it could follow the success of the metro coaches manufactured in the same city.
Prime Minister Modi cited Spanish poet Antonio Machado, emphasizing India’s strategic shift towards self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing—a sector that, a decade ago, was primarily focused on imports. He pointed to India’s restructured defense ecosystem, including a dynamic private sector, seven major public sector ordnance companies, and robust support for startups through the iDEX initiative. “India’s defense exports have expanded 30 times in the last decade, reaching over 100 countries,” Modi stated.
Beyond defense, Modi sees this initiative as a step toward India’s long-term goal of becoming a global aviation and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub, a sector that has seen remarkable growth and transformation over the past decade. With domestic airlines ordering 1,200 new aircraft, Modi expressed confidence that Vadodara would soon serve as a crucial center for manufacturing civil aircraft to meet global and domestic demands.
Vadodara’s ecosystem of MSMEs, its Gatishakti University, and its strong foundation in industries such as pharma, heavy machinery, chemicals, and energy equipment position it to support India’s defense and aviation ambitions. “This region will be a hub of aviation manufacturing, driving economic growth and job creation,” PM Modi remarked.
The event concluded with Modi inviting Spanish industry leaders to collaborate on India’s development journey. Joining him were Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. In a post on X, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the inauguration as a landmark achievement for India’s aerospace industry, emphasizing the significance of private sector involvement in producing a complete military aircraft domestically.