Prime Minister lays foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility – country’s first in private sector in Gujarat
As PM Modi laid the foundation stone in Vadodara, he called it a giant leap towards India becoming self-reliant in the aviation sector.
The Prime Minister stated that the defense and aerospace sectors will be key pillars for making India an Atmanirbhar. ‘Our defence manufacturing scale will surpass $25 billion by 2025. The establishment of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu would enable this scale to be achieved,’ he added.
This is the first time that such a huge investment is taking place in India’s defence aerospace sector, the PM said, adding that his government has carried out several economic reforms over the years. These reforms have hugely benefitted the manufacturing sector and given it a boost, he added.
Tata-Airbus will manufacture the C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The facility at Vadodara would manufacture additional aircraft for the Air Force and for export.
During the event, PM Modi addressed the crowd gathered and said, ‘The aircraft that will be manufactured here will not only power our Army, but will also develop a new ecosystem for aircraft production. Make In India passenger aircraft will soon be manufactured in India.’
The C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force will be manufactured by Tata-Airbus, said Defence Ministry officials. Apart from making 40 aircraft, this facility at Vadodara would be manufacturing additional aircraft for Air Force requirements and exports, as per Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar.
IAF officials said the first Indian Air Force squadron of C-295 transport aircraft would also be based in Vadodara.
Tata-Airbus combine had said that C-295 manufacturing is “the first Make in India aerospace program in the private sector involving the full development of a complete industrial ecosystem; from manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.”
The Defence Ministry said manufacturing of over 13,400 detail parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all the seven major component assemblies of the aircraft will be undertaken in India.
