Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez will inaugurate the Tata-Airbus C295 aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday. PM Sanchez, who is on a three-day visit to India, arrived in Vadodara early that morning. The C295 plant has been established by Tata Advanced Systems in partnership with Airbus Spain.
Details of the Manufacturing Facility
The facility is located at the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus. Under the C-295 program, a total of 56 aircraft are involved, with 16 units to be delivered directly from Spain by Airbus and 40 units manufactured in India. Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. will be responsible for producing these 40 aircraft, marking the first private-sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India. The facility will support the entire lifecycle of the aircraft, from manufacturing and assembly to testing, qualification, delivery, and maintenance.
Contributions from Various Sectors
In addition to Tata, key defense public sector units such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd., along with private micro, small, and medium enterprises, will contribute to this initiative. The production of the C295 aircraft is expected to strengthen India’s aerospace industry and promote self-reliance.
Historical Context of the Deal
In 2021, India signed a contract with Airbus to acquire 56 C-295 transport aircraft. This deal includes 16 aircraft to be shipped from Spain and 40 to be produced in India at the Tata facility in Vadodara. The city has been beautifully illuminated to welcome both leaders.
Community Excitement
Residents of Vadodara have expressed their joy over the visit of PM Modi and PM Sanchez, hoping for enhanced international relations between India and Spain.
PM Modi’s Further Plans
Later in the day, PM Modi is scheduled to visit the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara. He will then travel to Amreli, where he will inaugurate the Bharat Mata Sarovar and lay the foundation for various development projects worth over ₹4,800 crores. These initiatives will benefit residents in Amreli, Jamnagar, Morbi, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Junagadh, Porbandar, Kachchh, and Botad districts.
The Prime Minister will also initiate road projects exceeding ₹2,800 crores, including the four-laning of sections of NH 151, NH 151A, and NH 51, along with the Junagadh bypass. Additionally, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation for various water supply projects in Amreli, worth over ₹700 crores. This includes the Pasavi Group Augmentation Water Supply Scheme Phase 2 in Bhavnagar district, which will benefit 95 villages in Mahuva, Talaja, and Palitana talukas. Modi will also lay the groundwork for tourism initiatives, transforming the Karli Recharge Reservoir at Mokarsagar in Porbandar into a premier eco-tourism destination.
PM Sanchez’s Engagements in Mumbai
Meanwhile, PM Sanchez will visit Mumbai for official engagements. He will meet with trade and industry leaders, think tanks, and representatives from the film industry. During his stay, he will address the 4th Spain India Forum organized by the Spain-India Council Foundation and the Observer Research Foundation. Additionally, he plans to visit major film studios to interact with prominent figures in the Indian entertainment sector, aiming to foster closer collaboration between the media industries of India and Spain.
