PM Modi and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez to Inaugurate Tata-Airbus C-295 Aircraft Plant in Vadodara
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will inaugurate the Tata-Airbus aircraft facility in Vadodara, India. This plant is set to produce the first Made in India C-295 transport plane by September 2026, with all 40 aircraft expected to be delivered by August 2031.
India signed a contract with Airbus in 2021 to purchase 56 C-295 aircraft. Of these, 16 will be delivered directly from Spain, while 40 will be manufactured in India at the Tata facility. The Defence Acquisition Council has approved the purchase of 15 additional C-295 planes, with three arriving from Spain in fly-away condition.
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth Rs 21,935 crore in September 2021, and the first aircraft was delivered in September 2023. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has already inducted six C-295 aircraft into its 11 Squadron based in Vadodara, with the last of the 16 flyaway aircraft expected by August 2025.
The Vadodara facility will produce the first Indian-made C-295 by September 2026, with the remaining 39 by August 2031. A Full Mission Simulator has been installed at the IAF’s Agra station. Most structural parts of the aircraft will be made in India, with 13,000 out of 14,000 detailed parts produced locally. Airbus has identified 37 companies, including 33 medium and small enterprises, to supply these parts.
The value addition by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will increase the indigenous content from 48% in the first 16 aircraft to 75% in the last 24. All 56 aircraft will feature an Electronic Warfare Suite made by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The project is expected to generate significant employment, with 600 highly skilled jobs, over 3,000 indirect jobs, and an additional 3,000 medium-skill opportunities. The transfer of man-hours from Airbus in Spain to India will increase from 78% for the first five aircraft to 96% for the remaining 35.
Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retired) highlighted the creation of an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India, with 37 industrial partners supporting the program. By 2030, the indigenous component is expected to reach 78%, reducing dependency on external agencies.
Doubts Revealed
PM Modi -: PM Modi refers to Narendra Modi, who is the Prime Minister of India. He is the leader of the Indian government and makes important decisions for the country.
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez -: Pedro Sanchez is the Prime Minister of Spain, a country in Europe. He is the leader of the Spanish government and works with other countries on international projects.
Tata-Airbus -: Tata-Airbus is a collaboration between Tata, an Indian company, and Airbus, a European airplane manufacturer. They are working together to build airplanes in India.
C-295 Aircraft -: The C-295 is a type of transport airplane used by the military to carry people and goods. It is known for its ability to take off and land on short runways.
Vadodara -: Vadodara is a city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is known for its rich history and culture, and now it will also be known for the new aircraft plant.
Indigenous content -: Indigenous content means using materials and parts that are made in India. This helps the country become more self-reliant and supports local businesses.
Aerospace capabilities -: Aerospace capabilities refer to a country’s ability to design, build, and maintain aircraft and spacecraft. Improving these capabilities means India can make more of its own planes and rely less on other countries.