India's dream of manufacturing military aircraft in the country is now going to come true as a new Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) factory is about to be inaugurated in Vadodara, where large military aircraft will be manufactured. The President of the Government, Narendra Modi, and the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, will inaugurate it on October 28.
The factory is part of a $2.5 billion (Rs 21,000 crore) deal under which India will buy 56 C-295 military aircraft from Airbus Defense and Space. These C-295 aircraft can carry 71 soldiers or 50 paratroopers and can also be used for medical evacuations.
The first 16 aircraft will be built in Spain and the rest by TASL in India. Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of this aircraft manufacturing facility on October 30, 2022. The aircraft engines and other essential machinery will be imported from Spain, while the main parts of the aircraft will be manufactured in Hyderabad. These planes will be ready to fly in Vadodara.
The first 'Made in India' C-295 medium-lift tactical transport aircraft will be ready in Vadodara in September 2026, and the last aircraft will be delivered to the Indian Air Force in August 2031. The new facility will also provide support maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to 56 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Airbus has 283 orders from 41 countries and the C-295 is considered the best in its field. Airbus delivered the first C-295 to India in September 2023 and the second aircraft in May 2024. 14 more aircraft are being built at the same plant in Spain and one aircraft will be delivered each month until August 2025. The Air Force India has been using British-made HS748 aircraft since the 1960s, and the C-295 will replace these older aircraft.
