Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated an aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday. The facility, a result of collaboration between India’s Tata Group and Spain’s Airbus, marks a significant advancement in India’s defence manufacturing capabilities, setting the stage for the production of India’s first privately manufactured military aircraft. The inauguration underscores India’s commitment to enhancing domestic defence production and deepening international defence partnerships.
The Tata-Airbus complex, located in Vadodara, is set to produce 40 C-295 military aircraft, with production slated to begin in 2026. The project signifies the first time a private entity in India will be responsible for manufacturing and assembling a military aircraft, a step that supports India’s “Make in India, Make for the World” initiative. The facility will also serve as a foundation for further technological development and contribute to establishing an advanced manufacturing ecosystem for defence production in India.
At the inauguration, PM Narendra Modi highlighted the strategic and economic significance of the facility, emphasizing the potential impact on India’s defence capabilities and international relations. “This aircraft production factory will reinforce India-Spain relations while also advancing our ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ mission,” PM Narendra Modi stated, underlining the importance of self-reliance in defence manufacturing and positioning India as a global manufacturing hub.
PM Pedro Sanchez echoed PM Narendra Modi’s sentiments, describing the facility as a symbol of Spain’s aeronautical expertise. He added that the Tata-Airbus project not only bolsters India’s defence capacity but also serves as a catalyst for technological progress within the Indian manufacturing sector. “The C-295 aircraft is emblematic of the Spanish and European aerospace industry, and this facility will modernize India’s defence forces while creating thousands of jobs and developing a new generation of skilled engineers and technicians in Gujarat,” Pedro Sanchez remarked.
The collaboration between Tata and Airbus is rooted in a contract signed in September 2021 between the Indian Ministry of Defence and Airbus Defence and Space SA, Spain, amounting to Rs 21,935 crore. Under this agreement, 56 C-295 aircraft will be supplied to India, with 16 delivered directly from Spain in a fly-away condition, while the remaining 40 are to be assembled in Vadodara by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). So far, six of the Spanish-manufactured aircraft have already been incorporated into the Indian Air Force’s fleet at Vadodara’s 11 Squadron.
As part of this groundbreaking venture, the Tata-Airbus project will involve the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem covering manufacturing, assembly, testing, certification, delivery, and lifetime maintenance of the aircraft. Leading public sector defence organizations, including Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics, along with numerous private micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), are also expected to participate in this project, contributing components and sub-assemblies.
The manufacturing facility, located at TASL’s Vadodara campus, began taking shape following a foundation stone-laying ceremony led by PM Narendra Modi in October 2022. On Monday, both leaders arrived at the campus following a roadshow that took them from Vadodara’s airport through streets lined with spectators. The two leaders greeted the crowd from an open jeep, underscoring the significance of the event for local residents and the broader region.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s visit marks his first official trip to India. Following the inauguration ceremony, he is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on Tuesday before returning to Spain. The Spanish leader’s itinerary also includes a visit to the historic Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, where he and PM Narendra Modi will hold bilateral discussions organized by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The meeting, which will be followed by lunch at the palace, is expected to cover a range of topics related to bilateral cooperation, with a focus on defence, economic partnerships, and technological collaboration.
The Tata-Airbus aircraft manufacturing facility signals a major leap forward in India’s self-sufficiency in defence production, aligned with the nation’s broader goals of bolstering domestic manufacturing and securing technological autonomy. The project not only solidifies India-Spain defence relations but also underscores India’s growing role as a global player in defence technology.
