In a major boost to the Make in India campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a Rs 22,000 crore joint venture project between the Tatas and European aviation giant Airbus to manufacture transport planes for the Indian Air Force at Vadodra in Gujarat on Sunday.
“This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. The total cost of the project is Rs 21,935 crore. The aircraft can be used for civilian purposes as well,” Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said at a press conference today.
The Tata-Airbus project is seen as a major step forward in the PM’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign to reduce the country’s dependence on imported military equipment.
The Centre last month approved the purchase of 56 transport aircraft from Airbus. “As part of the contract, 16 aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway condition and 40 will be manufactured in India,” said the Defence Secretary
According to an official statement, the first 16 flyaway or ready-to-operate aircraft are scheduled to be received between September 2023 and August 2025. The first Gujarat-made aircraft is expected to hit the skies in September 2026.
“C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the IAF. It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another important feature. The aircraft will strengthen the logistic capabilities of the IAF,” the statement said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel are among those who will attend the function at Vadodra to kick off the project.
