Tata and Airbus to build aircraft manufacturing plant in Gujarat, PM Modi will inaugurate

The Tata Group will build transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).  The C-295 transport aircraft will be jointly developed by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Airbus. On Thursday, Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar said, 'This is the first time the C-295 aircraft will be manufactured outside Europe.'

What's the story?

In September 2021, India signed an agreement with Airbus Defense and Space worth around Rs 21,000 crore.  It will buy 56 C-295 transport aircraft.  The new aircraft will replace the IAF's aging Avro-748 aircraft.  This is the first time that a private company will manufacture military aircraft in India.

Under the contract, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in 'fly-away' condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain over the next four years.  The next 40 aircraft will then be manufactured and assembled in India by TASL as part of the production.  The whole will be done through a partnership between the two organizations.

What's next?

The C295 is known as a high performance aircraft.  It can carry 71 soldiers or 50 paratroopers.  Places can be reached where current heavy aircraft cannot.  It will also be used for logistics operations.  The aircraft can also be used for paratroop and load airdrop and rescue operations.