Vadodara Decked Up to Welcome PM Modi and Spanish Counterpart
The city of Vadodara is adorned in preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday.
They are set to inaugurate the Tata-Airbus aircraft facility, a significant milestone for India’s aviation sector.
Residents of Vadodara are excited about the visit, hoping it will strengthen India’s international relations with Spain. The Tata Aircraft Complex, located at Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), will manufacture C-295 aircraft, marking a first for India’s private sector in military aviation. This initiative aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem for manufacturing, assembly, and lifecycle maintenance, supported by companies like Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bharat Dynamics Ltd., and various private enterprises.
All activities related to manufacturing, assembly, testing, delivery, and maintenance of the aircraft will take place at this facility. This military aircraft factory is a joint effort between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus Spain, symbolizing the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
A deal was signed on September 24, 2021, between the Defence Ministry and Airbus Defence and Space SA for the purchase of 56 C-295 transport aircraft from Spain. Under this agreement, 16 aircraft will be delivered directly from Spain, while 40 will be manufactured in India. The deal was valued at Rs 21,935 crore.
Airbus has already delivered six C-295s to the Indian Air Force (IAF), with the seventh expected by the end of this year. The delivery of the 16 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by August 2025, while the first C-295 aircraft from the Vadodara factory may roll out in September 2026, with the remaining 39 to be delivered by August 2031.
Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara factory dedicated to the C-295 program in October 2022. Once fully operational, the IAF is poised to become the world’s largest operator of the C-295, enhancing its capabilities and operational readiness.
Prime Minister Sanchez’s three-day visit to India began on Saturday, marking the first official visit by a Spanish leader to India in 18 years. The two leaders have met previously at various multilateral meetings.
