New Delhi: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, on his maiden official visit to India, arrived in Vadodara, Gujarat, as the first stop of his short trip on Monday morning.
Sanchez arrived at Vadodara airport at 1:30 am, kicking off his visit with a royal welcome. He was greeted with a grand 2.5 km roadshow, showcasing Gujarat’s vibrant culture, before heading to the place of the partnership – the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) facility.
Inicio mi primer viaje oficial a India con el objetivo de relanzar nuestras relaciones bilaterales.
India es un actor clave y una voz muy destacada en la comunidad internacional con quien abordaremos muchos de los desafíos conjuntos que tenemos por delante. pic.twitter.com/rKPB3gZmqK
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) October 27, 2024
The facility, a joint venture between TASL and Airbus, is set to be the first private sector final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft in India. Under the deal signed in 2021, the Indian Air Force will get more strength, with the production of 56 C-295 transport aircraft, for a total of Rs 21,935 crore.
This ambitious project will witness the creation of a complete ecosystem for the C-295, encompassing everything from manufacturing and assembly to testing, qualification, delivery, and lifecycle maintenance. While Airbus will deliver 16 C-295s in flyaway condition, the remaining 40 will be assembled at the Vadodara facility, marking a significant leap forward in India’s Indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
“It will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem from the manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement on Saturday.
Sanchez and Modi will jointly inaugurate the facility, representing the strong bilateral ties and the pledge to promote India’s Indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities. The event will be followed by a bilateral meeting at the historic Laxmi Vilas Palace, where the two leaders will discuss further collaboration and strategic partnerships.
