C295 Assembly Facility, India's 1st Aerospace Project Under Make In India, Launch Today: Why It Will Be A Game-Changer

Vadodara: One of Ratan Tata's key projects — the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft was launched today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez. The two leaders took on a 2.5 km roadshow from the airport to the Tata facility in Vadodara, which is the first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India.PM Modi also paid tribute to former Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata, who is said to be the man behind this critical project. "The Tata-Airbus manufacturing facility will strengthen the India-Spain relations and the 'Make in India, Make for the World' mission," PM Modi said. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran also remembered Ratan Tata's contributions in the project which was conceived in 2012. “I will fail in my duty if I forget to mention that this project was originally conceived more than a decade ago, in 2012, by the then Tata Sons Chairman, Ratan Tata Ji, who led the whole concept to build a relationship with Airbus and created this partnership with Airbus and laid the foundation stone for this opportunity. So, I would like to remember him for his visionary leadership in this very path-breaking initiative," he said.Under the C-295 project, a total of 56 aircraft will be built, out of which 16 are being delivered directly by the aircraft manufacturing company Airbus from Spain. The remaining 40 aircraft will be built at the TATA Aircraft Complex at the TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) Campus.Defene Minister Rajnath Singh also hailed the project C-295, calling it "very special day" for the Indian Aerospace industry. "The C-295 project is a huge accomplishment for the Indian private industry as it is the first project of its kind in which a complete military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. The project will give a big boost to India's growing aerospace ecosystem," Singh, who will also attend the launch event, posted on X.

Tomorrow, 28th October, is going to be a very special day for the Indian Aerospace industry.

PM Shri @narendramodi , along with his Spanish counterpart Mr. @sanchezcastejon will jointly inaugurate the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft in Vadodara.

The… pic.twitter.com/44oApxLiko

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 27, 2024

Under Ratan Tata's leadership, the Tata Group signed a deal with Airbus to manufacture and assemble the C-295 military aircraft at the Vadodara Final Assembly Line (FAL), the foundation stone of which was laid by PM Modi in October 2022. Now, Noel Tata, the new Chairman of Tata Trusts, will continue his late half-brother’s legacy by overseeing the completion of the first C-295 aircraft by 2026. Why It Will Be A Game-Changer For India?The C-295 is a transport aircraft with a capacity of 5-10 tonnes and advanced technology, set to replace the Indian Air Force's aging Avro-748 planes. Recognised for its superior capabilities, the C-295 can tactically transport up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers and conduct logistics operations in locations inaccessible to heavier aircraft.Described as "robust and reliable," the C-295 has a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, enabling it to perform multi-role operations in all weather conditions. It is designed for both day and night combat missions across a variety of environments, from deserts to maritime areas.The aircraft features a rear ramp door for rapid troop and cargo deployment, and it can take off and land on semi-prepared surfaces. Additionally, all 56 aircraft in the agreement will be equipped with an indigenous Electronic Warfare suite developed by Indian DPSUs, including Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.