New Tata-Airbus Factory in Gujarat to Enhance India’s Defense Capabilities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, inaugurated the Tata-Airbus C295 aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday. The Spanish PM, currently on a three-day visit to India, arrived in Vadodara earlier today. This project, one of India’s most ambitious in the defense sector, has been developed by Tata Advanced Systems. In partnership with Airbus Spain at the TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus. Under the C-295 program, a total of 56 aircraft are planned, with 16 to be delivered directly by Airbus from Spain. And the remaining 40 to be manufactured in India.

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Boosting India’s Defense Capabilities with a New Manufacturing Facility

In February, the Defence Acquisitions Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved an initial project draft proposing an additional 15 C-295 aircraft—nine designated for the Navy and six for the Coast Guard. The newly inaugurated manufacturing facility in Vadodara. Led by Prime Minister Modi and the Spanish PM, will significantly enhance India’s defense capabilities. This project encompasses the entire ecosystem, from manufacturing and assembly to testing, qualification, delivery, and ongoing maintenance throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle.

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Pioneering Private Sector Involvement in Military Aircraft Manufacturing

The C-295 aircraft is set to replace the IAF’s HS-748 Avro fleet, marking the first time a military aircraft will be manufactured by the private sector in India. Breaking the long-standing dominance of the defense PSU, Hindustan Aeronautics. Alongside Tata, key defense public sector companies like Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. Along with private MSMEs, will play vital roles in building a robust ecosystem for military aircraft production. This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s vision to establish India as a global hub for defense manufacturing.

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PM Modi’s Upcoming Engagements in Gujarat

Reports indicate that after inaugurating the facility in Vadodara, Prime Minister Modi will visit Laxmi Vilas Palace and then head to Amreli. Where he is scheduled to inaugurate the Bharat Mata Sarovar at 2:45 PM. Additionally, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation for development projects worth over ₹4,800 crore in the district.

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