'Ratan Tata would have been happy': PM Modi and Spain PM Pedro Sanchez launch Tata-Airbus C295 factory

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday jointly inaugurated the Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL)-Airbus facility, which will manufacture C-295 military aircraft in India.

This facility marks the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in the country. During the inauguration, PM Modi asserted that the facility will not only bolster the India-Spain relationship but also support the 'Make in India, Make for the World' mission. He also mentioned that the aircraft produced at this facility will be exported in the future.

"This is my friend Pedro Sanchez's first visit to India. From today, we are giving a new direction to India and Spain's partnership. We are inaugurating the production factory of C-295 aircraft. This factory will strengthen India-Spain relations as well as 'Make in India, Make for the World' mission," PM Modi said.

PM Modi expressed confidence that the late Ratan Tata would have been pleased with the inauguration of the Tata Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft.

"Recently, we lost the country's great son Ratan Tata ji. If he had been among us today, he would have been happy, but wherever his soul is, he would be happy. This C-295 aircraft factory reflects the new work culture of New India ... When I was the Gujarat CM, it was decided to set up a factory in Vadodara to build train coaches. The factory was also prepared for production within a record time. Today, we are exporting the metro coaches manufactured in that factory to other countries. I am confident that in the future, the aircraft made in this factory will also be exported to other countries," PM Modi said.

PM Modi said the new facility will generate thousands of jobs, and the focus is now on transforming India into an aviation hub.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the first aircraft will be ready to roll out from this facility in 2026.

In September 2021, India finalized a nearly Rs 21,000 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the aging Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force. This project marks the first time a private company will manufacture military aircraft in India.

Under the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in 'fly-away' condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, within four years, while the subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by TASL in India.

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