Tue Oct 29 16:52:37 UTC 2024: ## India Inaugurates First Military Aircraft Assembly Line, Boosting ‘Make in India’ Initiative
**Vadodara, Gujarat:** India took a major stride in its aerospace and defense sector yesterday with the inauguration of the country’s first final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft in Vadodara. This landmark facility, a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus, marks a significant step in the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiatives.
The FAL will produce 56 Airbus C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), with 40 of these aircraft being assembled locally. The remaining 16 will be delivered from Airbus’ facility in Seville, Spain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spain’s President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón jointly inaugurated the facility, along with Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and Airbus Defence CEO Michael Schoellhorn.
The IAF contracted Airbus for the C295 aircraft to replace its aging AVRO fleet. The Vadodara FAL integrates production of components, assembly, tooling, and testing, with the Main Component Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad already producing key parts. The first locally built C295 is expected to roll out by September 2026, with the delivery of 40 aircraft to the IAF targeted by August 2031.
This project signifies Airbus’s commitment to India, with the country now becoming the largest customer for the C295 aircraft. The project will see over 85% of the structural and assembly work completed domestically, utilizing 13,000 parts manufactured in India. 21 specialized processes have been certified, and 37 Indian suppliers from both the public and private sectors are involved.
Airbus already has a significant presence in India’s aerospace sector, investing over US$1 billion annually and employing over 15,000 people across components, engineering, and support services. The company also operates engineering and digital centers in Bengaluru, supporting its global operations. This collaboration with TASL further strengthens India’s aerospace supply chain and reinforces the country’s strategic partnership with Airbus.
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