Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez today jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft at TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus in Vadodara, Gujarat. This landmark initiative, part of the ‘Make in India’ project in the aviation sector, is developed by Tata Advanced Systems in collaboration with Airbus Spain.
The manufacturing line will produce C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) under a 2021 agreement with Airbus, covering a total of 56 aircraft valued at nearly ₹21,000 crore. Of these, 16 will be delivered directly from Airbus in Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured at TASL’s Vadodara facility. The first ‘Make in India’ aircraft is expected to roll out by September 2026, with final deliveries projected for August 2031.
The C-295 is a modern transport aircraft with a capacity of 5-10 tonnes, designed to replace the ageing Avro fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF). With a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, it is capable of executing multi-role operations in all weather conditions, making it suitable for both day and night combat missions across diverse environments, from deserts to maritime areas. Additionally, it features a rear ramp door for rapid troop and cargo deployment and can take off and land on short, semi-prepared surfaces.
It has been reported that this initiative will serve as a catalyst for employment generation within the country's aerospace ecosystem, expected to create 600 direct highly skilled jobs, over 3,000 indirect jobs, and an additional 3,000 medium-skilled employment opportunities, contributing more than 42.5 lakh man-hours of work in India's aerospace and defence sector. Additionally, nearly 240 engineers were to receive training at the Airbus facility in Spain.
The C-295 facility, located in Vadodara, represents India’s first private sector military aircraft manufacturing site and was highlighted as a flagship initiative in aerospace. PM Modi noted that construction of this facility began two years ago in October.
Production of components for the C-295 has already begun in Hyderabad, and the aircraft, equipped with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, will support the modernisation of the IAF's transport fleet, carrying up to 9 tonnes or 70 troops.
The Prime Minister stated that the factory will facilitate the local production of 18,000 aircraft components, creating significant opportunities for MSMEs throughout India. “Indian airlines have placed orders for 1,200 new aircraft from various global manufacturers,” he said at the inaugural event.
Spanish President Sanchez commenced his first official visit to India, arriving in Vadodara, around 1:30 AM on Monday. His three-day visit focuses on deepening India-Spain relations and includes delegation-level talks with PM Narendra Modi. A high-level bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Sanchez is also scheduled in Vadodara, underscoring the significance of this visit.
The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed President Sanchez on social media with "Bienvenido a India!" marking his visit as the first by a Spanish President to India in 18 years, a milestone for bilateral ties. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri welcomed President Sanchez at Vadodara International Airport. He is set to visit Mumbai on Tuesday before departing back to Spain.
