Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated India’s first privately operated military aircraft manufacturing facility, reinforcing New Delhi’s push for greater domestic production in defense and aerospace.
During the event in Vadodara, Gujarat, Modi’s home state, the two leaders traveled through the streets in an open-top, flower-adorned vehicle, cheered on by hundreds of locals waving banners. This marks the first visit by a Spanish prime minister to India in 18 years, highlighting Madrid’s interest in boosting investments in the world’s fifth-largest economy.
The facility is a collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus, following a $2.5 billion agreement with India’s Ministry of Defence in 2021 for the production of 56 C-295 aircraft. Sixteen of these cargo and troop carriers will be assembled in Seville, Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured in Vadodara, with production in India set to begin by 2026. The C-295 is designed to transport up to 71 soldiers or 50 paratroopers and supports versatile operations like medical evacuation, disaster relief, and maritime patrol.
Modi emphasized that this project will strengthen the India-Spain partnership and advance India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, positioning the country as a reliable global hub for aerospace manufacturing. Sanchez echoed this vision, calling the collaboration with Airbus a landmark step for India’s defense and aerospace industries and affirming Spain’s role as a “reliable and strategic partner.”
Tata Group chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran hailed the facility as a milestone for India’s defense sector, crediting the late Ratan Tata, who had envisioned the project over a decade ago.
Spain, currently India’s 16th-largest foreign investor, is looking to expand its collaboration with India in sectors such as construction, pharmaceuticals, energy, and railways. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $9.9 billion in 2023, with India exporting $7.17 billion and importing $2.74 billion.
Sanchez’s visit will continue in Mumbai, where he will meet with trade and industry leaders on Tuesday to explore further collaborations, including potential projects in Bollywood.
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