Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat on Sunday. The facility will manufacture C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) through collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space SA, Spain.
Addressing the gathering, Modi said India is moving forward with the mantra of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ and now it is becoming a huge manufacturer of transport aircraft.
He expressed happiness that more than 100 MSMEs are also associated with the project. He said the promise of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ will gain new push from Vadodara as the project will be able to take orders for export to other countries in the future.
Highlighting the increased demand for passenger and cargo aircraft, the prime minister stated that India will need more than 2000 aircraft in the next 15 years. He also pointed out that India has already begun preparations for the same.
16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition between September 2023 and August 2025. The remaining 40 will be manufactured at the Vadodara manufacturing facility and is expected to be ready from September 2026.
Credit: PIB New Delhi
Modi highlighted that although COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war have disrupted the supply chain, India’s growth momentum has been constant.
“India is presenting the opportunity of low-cost manufacturing and high output,” he remarked and added that India has a huge talent pool of skilled manpower.
Throwing light on the reforms made by the government in the last eight years, the prime minister said the country is creating an unprecedented environment for manufacturing by opening up the 100 per cent FDI route, opening up defence and space sectors for the private companies, reforming 29 central labour laws into four codes, abolishing 33,000 compliances, and creation of the Goods and Service Tax by putting an end to a complex web of dozens of taxes.
He said, “a new saga of economic reforms is being written in India today and the manufacturing sector is reaping the most benefits from this apart from the states.”
Modi highlighted that in the coming years, the defence and aerospace sectors are going to be the crucial pillars of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign. “We aim to scale our defence manufacturing beyond $25 billion by 2025. Our defence exports will also exceed $5 billion,” he added.
In conclusion, Modi urged all those associated with the industry to make the most out of the unprecedented investment confidence in the country at the moment. He added that more thought must be given to helping the start-ups of the country in moving forward.
He also stressed on increased participation of the private sector in the field of research. “If we push in this direction, we will be able to develop a stronger ecosystem of innovation and manufacturing. You always have to remember the mantra of Sabka Prayas,” the prime minister said.
As part of the event, Modi also visited an exhibition which showcased the technological and manufacturing strides in the aerospace industry under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 30, 2022
Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh termed the laying of foundation stone a major milestone in the journey of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.
All 56 aircraft will be fitted with indigenous Electronic Warfare suite manufactured by Indian DPSUs – Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.
He congratulated TATA consortium, Airbus and other organisations associated with the project, lauding them for promoting the Swadeshi movement of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi who hailed from Gujarat.
Singh described the C-295 as a state-of-the-art aircraft, with superior capabilities and global standards, that will unprecedently add to the logistical capability of the IAF.
The defence minister said that the measures taken by Ministry of Defence to promote domestic manufacturing will help in making India a net exporter of defence equipment/platforms. The journey of the aircraft manufactured at this facility will be the journey of mutual cooperation, defence empowerment and self-reliance, he added.
“Due to the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, India’s global image has transformed completely. New Delhi has now become a major voice on international platforms, with the world listening to us with attention and respect,” Singh also added.
Foundation laying ceremony of C-295 Aircraft Manufacturing Facility, in Vadodara, Gujarat on 30 October. (Credit: PIB New Delhi)
The facility is expected to generate 600 highly skilled jobs directly, over 3,000 indirect jobs and an additional 3,000 medium skill employment opportunities with more than 42.5 lakh man hours of work within the aerospace and defence sector of India. Nearly 240 engineers will be trained at Airbus facility in Spain.
