New Delhi: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (October 28) inaugurated the country’s first private military aircraft plant in Gujarat’s Vadodara. Both countries also expressed deep concern and called for quick resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza In a joint statement released later.
The Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) facility, inaugurated by Sanchez on his maiden visit to India, will manufacture the Airbus C295 military aircraft.
The plant is part of a $2.5 billion agreement signed between India and Airbus Defense and Space in 2021 for 56 cargo and troop-carrying C295 aircrafts. Of these, 16 will be assembled in Spain’s Seville, with the first set of deliveries completed last year, while the remaining 40 will be produced in India.
The first indigenously manufactured Airbus C295 will be delivered in 2026, TATA Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran said. A group of 200 engineers are undergoing training in Spain, he added.
Prime Minister Modi with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez. Photo: @NarendraModi
Sanchez said the project was a triumph of Modi’s vision “to turn India into an industrial powerhouse and a magnet for investment and business-to-business collaboration.”
“This partnership between Airbus and TATA will contribute to the progress of the Indian aerospace industry and will open new doors for the arrival of other European companies,” he added.
“This factory will not only strengthen India-Spain relations but also the ‘Make in India and Made for the World’ mission,” Modi said at the inauguration.
Apart from the TATA group, defence public sector units such as Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics, as well as private micro, small and medium enterprises, will contribute to this programme, news agency PTI reported.
It will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem, from manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete life cycle of the aircraft, the report said.
On violence in Gaza and Ukraine
On the political front, the joint statement gave a framework of shared concerns over the global hotspots of violence in Gaza and Ukraine.
“The leaders expressed their deepest concern over the war in Ukraine and reiterated the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with international law, and consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said the bilateral document.
Among European nations, Spain has been a prominent critic of Israel over the Gaza war, officially recognizing Palestine and joining South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice. In contrast, India has been notably restrained, with a mixed record on UN votes regarding the Gaza war, despite its reiterated support for Palestine.
Earlier this year, Spain had refused docking permission for a Denmark-flagged cargo ship carrying 26.8 tonnes of explosives from India for Israel.
The joint statement called for “ the immediate release of all hostages, immediate ceasefire and safe, sustained entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza”.
While not mentioning Israel by name, the two countries highlighted the “urgent need to protect the lives of civilians and urged all parties to comply with international law”.
“They reiterated their commitment to the implementation of the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine, living within secure and mutually recognized borders, side by side in peace and security with Israel as well as their support for Palestine membership at the United Nations,” the joint statement said.
Sanchez’s maiden visit
Sanchez arrived at the Vadodara airport at around 1.30 am on Monday as he began his first official visit to India.
Before the TASL inauguration, the Spanish prime minister along with Modi held a roadshow in the city, travelling in an open jeep, with cultural performances set up along the 2.5 km stretch.
The leaders then headed to the Laxmi Vilas Palace to hold a bilateral meeting organised by the Union external affairs ministry. Overall, the ministry listed eight outcomes from the visit, which included the inauguration of the C295 plant and announcement of the Year 2026 as India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI.
Sanchez is scheduled to visit Mumbai on Tuesday (October 29) before returning to Spain on Wednesday (October 30).
