Tata-Airbus Vadodara Facility To Produce India's First Locally Assembled C-295 Aircraft; Create Jobs

The C-295 manufacturing project involves producing 56 aircraft, with 16 to be delivered directly from Airbus in Spain, while the remaining 40 will be assembled at the Tata facility in Gujarat

The C-295 is a next-generation transport aircraft, known for its advanced technology, avionics, and significant payload capacity of 9.5 tons.

Source : PIB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday inaugurated the new Tata Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, marking the launch of India’s first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft, a significant move for India's defence and aerospace sector. This facility, located at Tata Advanced Systems Limited's (TASL) campus, will manufacture C-295 aircraft under a major collaborative program with Airbus.

The C-295 manufacturing project, part of a strategic push to bolster India's self-reliance in aerospace, involves producing 56 aircraft, with 16 to be delivered directly from Airbus in Spain, while the remaining 40 will be assembled locally at the Tata facility in Gujarat. The programme envisions creating a comprehensive aerospace ecosystem within India, covering assembly, testing, and full lifecycle management of the aircraft.

Prime Minister Modi's office released a statement highlighting the facility's role in India's growing defence manufacturing capabilities: "This complex will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem, from manufacture to assembly, testing, qualification, delivery, and maintenance over the aircraft’s complete lifecycle."

India is attaching topmost priority to defence manufacturing and this is being noted globally. #C295MadeInIndia pic.twitter.com/2H8Z12RWzV

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 28, 2024

The Airbus C-295, originally designed by CASA in Spain, is a medium tactical transport aircraft with versatile capabilities, including cargo and personnel transport, parachute operations, electronic signals intelligence, medical evacuation, and maritime patrol. The Vadodara plant, a joint effort between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus Spain, marks a milestone in India's journey toward building a self-sufficient aerospace industry.

The facility will handle all stages of the C-295 aircraft's lifecycle, from initial assembly to long-term maintenance, establishing a robust ecosystem with contributions from public sector giants such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd., as well as private micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Employment Impact and Skill Development

The project is projected to create substantial employment opportunities within India, with Airbus gradually transferring production man-hours from Spain. Initially, 78 per cent of man-hours will be conducted in India for the first five aircraft, increasing to 96 per cent for the remaining 35. This transition is expected to create 600 highly skilled direct jobs, 3,000 indirect jobs, and an additional 3,000 medium-skill positions, totaling over 4.25 million man-hours within the aerospace and defence sector.

The Strategic Importance of the C-295

The C-295 is a next-generation transport aircraft, known for its advanced technology, avionics, and significant payload capacity of 9.5 tons. It will serve as a vital addition to the Indian Air Force, replacing the aging HS 748 Avro fleet. The aircraft’s induction into the Indian Air Force is seen as a major achievement for the Indian private sector, marking the first time a complete military aircraft will be built in India by a private company.

The launch of the Tata Aircraft Complex and the C-295 project is anticipated to strengthen India's aerospace ecosystem, advancing domestic defence manufacturing and enhancing the country’s self-reliance.