Vadodara- Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced on Monday that the Tata-Airbus joint venture will deliver its first C-295 military transport aircraft from the newly inaugurated Tata Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, Gujarat, within the next two years.

Speaking at the launch, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Chandrasekaran described the facility as a landmark for India's defense manufacturing industry and the "Make in India" initiative. "In two years, we’ll deliver the first C-295 aircraft made in India. This facility marks a historic milestone for Tata and India, generating skilled employment and fostering a high-tech manufacturing ecosystem," Chandrasekaran stated.

The Vadodara plant represents India’s first private sector facility for military transport aircraft, highlighting a pivotal advancement in the country's defense manufacturing capabilities. This initiative aligns with the vision to establish India as a key player in global aerospace production, fostering a robust supply chain and skilled workforce to support indigenous manufacturing.

Acknowledging former Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata's role in the inception of the project over a decade ago, Chandrasekaran said, "This vision was first set into motion by Ratan Tata Ji in 2012. His foresight and efforts to create a partnership with Airbus were instrumental in bringing this opportunity to life."

As part of the collaboration, the first cohort of 200 engineers from Tata Group is already receiving training in Spain, with plans to expand the local supply base by working with numerous SME companies to achieve high levels of product localization.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lauded the Tata-Airbus collaboration as a transformative partnership for India’s aerospace sector, calling Tata "a giant among giants" in Indian industry. Addressing Prime Minister Modi, he added, "This collaboration, in line with your vision, will further solidify India’s status as an industrial powerhouse and pave the way for more European investments in India’s aerospace sector."