Tata Advanced Systems was established in collaboration with Airbus Spain at the TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata-Airbus C295 aircraft plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday. The Spanish PM, who is on a three-day visit to India, arrived in Vadodara earlier today.
Tata Advanced Systems, one of India’s most ambitious defense projects, was developed in collaboration with Airbus Spain at the TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus.
The C-295 program comprises a total of 56 aircraft, with 16 being delivered directly by Airbus from Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured in India.
In February, the Defence Acquisitions Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the initial draft of the project, which proposed the addition of 15 more C-295 aircraft—nine for the Navy and six for the Coast Guard.
How the New Facility Can Enhance India’s Defence Capabilities
The new manufacturing facility inaugurated by PM Modi and the Spanish Prime Minister in Vadodara is set to significantly boost India’s defense capabilities. This project will encompass the entire development ecosystem, covering everything from manufacturing and assembly to testing, qualification, delivery, and maintenance throughout the aircraft’s complete lifecycle.
The C-295 aircraft will replace the Indian Air Force’s HS-748 Avro fleet and marks the first time a military aircraft is being manufactured by the private sector in India, breaking the longstanding monopoly of the defense PSU Hindustan Aeronautics.
In addition to Tata, major defense public sector units like Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd., along with private MSMEs, will play a role in establishing a comprehensive ecosystem for military aircraft production in India. This initiative will support the Indian government’s ambition to transform India into a defense manufacturing hub.
According to reports, PM Modi will visit Laxmi Vilas Palace before heading to Amreli, where he is scheduled to inaugurate the Bharat Mata Sarovar at 2:45 PM following the facility inauguration in Vadodara.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation for development projects worth over ₹4,800 crore in the district.
