NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez will jointly inaugurate the final assembly line (FAL) of the Tata Advanced Systems C-295 aircraft facility in Vadodara on Oct 28. This is a major milestone for India’s defence manufacturing sector and strengthens the growing relationship between India and Spain. The ground breaking ceremony of the Tata Advanced Systems (TAS) facility by PM Modi was done in Oct 2022 and now within 24 months he is inaugurating the facility.
India had in Sept 2021 formalised the acquisition of 56 C295 aircraft to replace Indian Air Force’s (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet. Under the contractual agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in “fly-away” condition. The C-295 program is the first aerospace project in the Indian private sector under the “Make in India” initiative. The TAS facility will manufacture and assemble 40 C-295 transport aircraft, equipped with indigenous Electronic Warfare Suites, for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The first of these Made-in-India aircraft is expected to roll out by Sept 2026, with the final aircraft set for delivery by August 2031. During the inauguration ceremony at the New VIP Road area of Vadodara, both the PMs will tour the assembly line and the hangar where the aircraft will be manufactured.
The C-295 aircraft is a military transport aircraft with a capacity of 5-10 tonnes, capable of carrying up to 71 troops or 49 to 50 paratroopers. Its tactical design and rear ramp door allow for rapid troop and cargo deployment, making it a crucial asset for the Indian Air Force.
