Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez inaugurated India's first private military aircraft plant in Vadodara, India. The Tata Aircraft Complex, a collaboration between Airbus Spain and Tata, will manufacture the Airbus C-295 transport military aircraft for the Indian air force. This initiative aligns with Modi's vision to boost local manufacturing in defense and aerospace industries.
The project, under a $2.5 billion deal signed in 2021, will see Airbus delivering the first 16 aircraft from Spain, with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd set to produce 40 more in India. The C-295 aircraft, capable of transporting troops, paratroopers, and aiding in medical evacuations and disaster response, is expected to be rolled out in 2026.
The visit marks the first by a Spanish leader to India in 18 years, signifying the strengthening ties between the two nations. The leaders are set to discuss various areas of cooperation, including trade, information technology, renewable energy, and defense. The bilateral trade between India and Spain stood at nearly $10 billion as of 2023, with a significant presence of Spanish companies in India and vice versa.
Sanchez's visit will also include interactions with industry leaders in Mumbai, India's financial capital, to explore collaboration opportunities in the entertainment industry. The agreements expected to be signed during the visit aim to further enhance the partnership between India and Spain across multiple sectors, reflecting a shared commitment to fostering economic growth and innovation.
