Indian, Spanish premiers inaugurate 1st private plant for military aircraft in India

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez on Monday jointly inaugurated the first private plant for military aircraft in the South Asian nation's western state of Gujarat.

An official statement said under the C-295 program, a total of 56 aircraft are to be delivered out of which 16 are being delivered directly by Airbus from Spain and remaining 40 are to be made in India.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd is responsible for making these 40 aircraft in India, the statement said, adding this facility “becomes the first private sector Final Assembly Line for military aircraft in India.”

“It will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem from the manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft,” it said.

During the event, Modi remarked that it would strengthen relations between the two nations, adding that India’s defense manufacturing ecosystem was “scaling new peaks.”

Earlier on Monday, Sanchez arrived in Gujarat state, marking the first visit by Spanish leader to India in 18 years.

“An official visit to elevate India and Spain relations to new heights,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on X.

During his visit, he will also hold meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ministry said.