India’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ initiative is set to take flight with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez will jointly grace the occasion on October 28th, signifying the momentous partnership between Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus.
The inauguration marks the culmination of a landmark agreement signed in September 2021, where India committed to procuring 56 C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space. This deal, valued at approximately ₹ 21,000 crore, is poised to revolutionize India’s defense sector by replacing the aging Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Notably, this project marks the first instance of a private company in India undertaking the production of military aircraft.
The Vadodara facility, whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Modi in October 2022, will serve as a vital hub for manufacturing and assembling these advanced transport aircraft. The initial 16 aircraft will be delivered ‘fly-away’ from Airbus’ final assembly line in Seville, Spain within four years. The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by TASL in India under the industrial partnership between the two companies.
The inauguration ceremony in Vadodara will not only witness the launch of this ambitious project but will also include a bilateral meeting between the two Prime Ministers, further reinforcing the strong ties between India and Spain. Preparations are underway by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation to ensure a grand welcome for the esteemed leaders.
This significant project underscores India’s commitment to bolstering its indigenous defense capabilities and propelling the ‘Make in India’ initiative forward. The Tata-Airbus partnership promises to create new opportunities for skilled professionals and contribute significantly to the growth of India’s aviation industry.