A symbol of the new work culture of New India. This is how Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Tata-Airbus C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility at Vadodara on Sunday while inaugurating the project, commissioned two years ago. Where, in its schedule time, work has started on schedule, progressing well and getting operational at the unit within the given timeframe.
It is my always emphasis that not a delay take place in the planning stage itself and implementation thereafter, said the PM.
On Monday, PM Modi inaugurated a manufacturing facility in Vadodara with Spanish President Pedro Sanchez. This marks a very important milestone for the defense sector as the plant would produce the country's first private-sector military transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), pushing India to an advanced level in defense manufacturing.
Greeting the audience in Spanish with a warm "Buenos días, PM Modi said, "This is my friend Pedro Sanchez's first visit to India.". Today he helps push this partnership between India and Spain on to a new pathway. "The new facility has represented a big milestone not just in terms of relations with Spain, but how the mission of 'Make in India, Make for the World' really kickstarted," he claimed
During his address, PM Modi extended warm wishes to the Airbus and Tata teams, as if reminiscing. "Just some time back we lost Ratan Tata. If he was here today, he would certainly be thrilled beyond measure. His spirit, wherever it is must be rejoicing today, he added.
PM Modi described the factory as "a symbol of the new work culture of New India." He welcomed the fast pace of execution of the project since its ground breaking two years ago, completed this month with its inauguration. "My focus has always been on preventing delays in planning and execution," he said while reflecting on his vision of time-bound execution.
He also discussed his experience as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and spoke on how he had initiated Vadodara's manufacture initiative by building a railway train coach production unit. "Those coaches are now being exported to other countries," said PM Modi as while referring to Vadodara's development as an up-coming production as well as export destination.
Deliveries are expected for September 2026, followed by a total of 39 units delivered by August 2031. All in all, this should mark a giant leap into making Indian defence more self-reliant because the IAF will emerge as the largest operator of the aircraft, thereby strengthening airlift capabilities. But PM Modi has furthered the concept by saying that "future aircraft built here will also be exported to other countries".
Quoting Spanish poet Antonio Machado, PM Modi said: "When we take the first step towards a goal, the path unfolds by itself." He used the metaphor to highlight India's transformation in defence manufacturing by reflecting on critical decisions made ten years ago to build a sustainable defence industry. "Ten years ago, it was unimaginable that India could achieve such substantial defence manufacturing," he said. "At that time, the emphasis was on importation. We created alternative routes, and what is before us today?"
This new facility will play an important role in making the Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem blooming. More than 18,000 aircraft parts will be manufactured by MSMEs in the whole country and hence, "This factory alone will generate thousands of jobs and produce 18,000 aircraft parts, which will be manufactured across the country by MSMEs," stated PM Modi.
PM Modi marked the recent successes of India in the field of defence. "In the last five years, 1,000 new defence startups have emerged and exports have increased thirty times," he said. "Today, we are supplying defence equipment to over 100 countries," he added while reaffirming the focus of the government on skill development and employment generation.
Referring to his government's part in rejuvenating the defense industry, PM Modi mentioned crucial policies, which included converting the ordnance factories into seven separate companies and making defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. "These decisions have infused fresh energy into the defence sector," he said.
PM Modi, "We are developing India's growing aviation connectivity. We're taking air connectivity to hundreds of small towns across the country, establishing India as an aviation hub; we are upgrading airports and more such facilities. Coming on the same context it is very important that Air force base infrastructure development also come into focus.
In this case, the very first C-295 comes out of the Vadodara Airbus-Tata factory. And rest of the remaining 39 come in different batches by August 2031.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the C-295 aircraft factory in Vadodara in October 2022. Once fully operational, the facility will make the Indian Air Force the world's largest operator of the C-295.
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