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NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez inaugurated India’s first private military aircraft plant on Monday, boosting the country’s ambitions of becoming a global manufacturing hub. 

In Gujarat state’s Vadodara city, the two premiers launched the Tata Aircraft Complex, the manufacturing hub that will produce the Airbus C-295 transport military aircraft in collaboration with Airbus Spain and to be deployed by the Indian Air Force.

“In India, the defense manufacturing ecosystem is touching a new height. Had we not taken a firm step 10 years ago we would not have reached this feat today. Back then no one could have imagined that India could be involved in defense manufacturing on such a scale,” Modi said at the launching ceremony. 

The Indian premier vowed to turn India into a global manufacturing hub when he came to power in 2014 with his “Make in India” initiative, including in infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and the defense sector. 

“That time our priority and identity were of importer. But we decided to tread a new path, we fixed a new target for us and today we are witnessing the result,” he said.

Under a $2.5 billion deal signed in 2021, India and Spain agreed to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the aging Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force. 

Airbus will deliver the first 16 of the aircraft from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain — six of which have so far been delivered. The remaining 40 will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems in India, as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies. 

“The factory will not only strengthen India and Spain’s relationship but also consolidate Make in India and Make for the World Mission,” Modi said. 

The plant in Vadodara is expected to roll out the first C-295 aircraft made in India in 2026. The plane can transport up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, will be able to access remote locations and be used for medical evacuations and aid in disaster response and maritime patrol duties.

“This project brings together the best of two worlds,” Sanchez said. 

“This project strengthens our industrial ties while underlying our country's deep commitment as a reliable and strategic partner. This plant will be a symbol of industrial excellence, an engine of growth and a testament to the close and growing friendship.”

Sanchez was on a three-day visit to India, the first such trip by a Spanish leader to the South Asian nation in 18 years.

As part of his visit, Sanchez will also travel to India’s financial capital of Mumbai on Tuesday, where he is expected to meet with trade and industry leaders, as well as visit film studios in an effort to boost entertainment industry collaboration between the two countries. 

As the world’s largest arms importer, accounting for almost 10 percent of total global arms import between 2019 and 2023, the plant in Vadodara marks a new chapter in India’s defense industry development.  

“To maintain strategic autonomy, it is imperative to substantially reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Hence, India is focusing on maximizing its domestic production of advanced defense systems,” Delhi-based defense analyst Ranjit Kumar told Arab News. 

India has been encouraging the private sector to make investment in weapons production to increase its self-dependency in the defense sector. New Delhi is also in talks with German and Spanish submarine makers to produce next-generation diesel submarines in India, he added. 

“India is thus leveraging its huge defense market to successfully negotiate with leading international defense firms to produce their weapon systems in India for supplying not only Indian armed forces but also use the facility in India for the international market.”