Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the C-295 aircraft to be manufactured at the Tata-Airbus plant would be exported in the future. While inaugurating the Tata Aeronautical Complex in Vadodara on Monday, Prime Minister Modi also paid tribute to Ratan Tata. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said thousands of jobs would be created through this facility and Indian companies, aspiring to expand, could bank on Spain.

“Recently, we lost the great son of the country, Ratan Tata ji. If he had been with us today, he would have been happy, but wherever his soul was, he would be happy. This C-295 aircraft factory reflects the new work culture of New India,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi said that when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, they set up a coach factory in Vadodara, which grew to export metro coaches to other countries. “I am confident that in the future, aircraft manufactured in this factory will also be exported to other countries,” he said, referring to the Tata-Airbus facility.

Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said: “So if Indian companies want to grow, believe me, they can trust Spain. In 2026, the first C-295 manufactured in India will be produced by this Vadodara factory. This plane is a symbol of the Spanish and European aeronautical industry.

The facility will modernize India’s defense capabilities and boost technological development, Sanchez said, calling Gujarat a hub of Indian manufacturing. “Thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created here and a new generation of highly qualified engineers and technicians will be trained,” he said.

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said the entire project was conceived over a decade ago in 2012 by Ratan Tata, who was then Chairman of Tata Sons. Tata led the entire concept to establish a relationship with Airbus and lay the foundation for the facility, he said.

“I would therefore like to remember him for his visionary leadership in this very innovative initiative. This is a historic moment not only for the Tata group but also for India…,” said N Chandrasekaran.

The first private sector military aircraft final assembly line in the country will build a total of 56 aircraft, of which Tata Advanced Systems will manufacture 40 and Airbus will deliver 16. The line will involve the complete development of an entire ecosystem, from from manufacturing to maintenance of the aircraft.