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The 2.5 billion dollar defence deal with Spain to jointly manufacture world famous C-295 military transport aircraft was inaugurated in Vadodara in Gujarat on Monday the 28th of October 2024.

The President of Spain Pedro Sanchez had specially flown-in from his country to be at the momentous occasion.

The Prime Minister Modi said the C-295 military transport aircraft facility in Vadodara inaugurated by him along with visiting Spanish President Pedro Sanchez will give strength to India-Spain relations and fulfill the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision of the government.

Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus Spain has jointly set up the facility.

A total of 56 aircrafts are there under the C-295 programme, of which 16 are being delivered directly by Airbus from Spain and the remaining 40 are to be made in the Vadodara facility.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd is responsible for making these 40 aircrafts in India.

The Tata Advanced Systems facility will be the first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India. It will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem from the manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.

Apart from Tatas, leading defence public sector units such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, as well as private Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises will contribute to this programme.

Earlier in October 2022, Prime Minister Modi had laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara Final Assembly Line (FAL

Modi said that if Ratan Tata, Tata Group head who died earlier this month, had been alive he would have been very pleased, but his soul will be very happy with today’s development.

PM Modi said the C-295 facility is reflective of India’s new generation and new work culture, and the speed at which it is working.

“Two years ago in October I laid the foundation stone, and today in the month of October, the factory is ready for production,” the PM added.

The C295 programme for India formalised in September 2021 the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft to replace the Indian Air Force (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet.

  • The contract is from India MoD to Airbus Defence & Space (of Spain) for supply of 56 aircraft.
  • Contract value is USD 2.5 billion.
  • With 56 aircraft in India, India will be the largest customer / fleet for Airbus DS, Spain on the C295 aircraft.
  • Under the contractual agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain.
  • The first of 16 aircraft was delivered to the IAF from Spain in September 2023. 6 aircrafts have already been delivered to the Indian Air Force from Spain.
  • Tata Advanced Systems Ltd is the Indian Aircraft Contractor, responsible for making 40 out of the 56 aircraft in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.
  • The Final Assembly Line (FAL) plant in Vadodara will roll out the first Made in India C295 aircraft in 2026.
  • The foundation stone for the Vadodara FAL was laid by Hon’ble PM on 30 Oct 2022.
  • The first ‘Make in India’ C295 will roll out of the Vadodara FAL in 2026.
  • The 56th aircraft is expected to be delivered to the IAF by 2031.

Apart from Tatas, leading defence public sector units such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, as well as private Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises will contribute to this programme.

  • The 24 Equipment Depot, Air Force Station, Manauri in Prayagraj has been designated as the central stock holding depot for C295 spares.
  • The ground breaking ceremony for a training centre at Air Force station, Agra, was done in March 2023 with a full motion simulator to be delivered by the end of 2024.

With a proven capability of operating from short or unprepared airstrips, the C295 is used for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, and for logistic operations to locations that are not accessible to current heavier aircraft.

It can airdrop para troops and loads, and also be used for casualty or medical evacuation (medevac), as demonstrated during the COVID-19 crisis, using either basic litters or mobile intensive care units (ICU) with life support equipment.

The aircraft can perform special missions as well as disaster response and maritime patrol duties.