India Opens First Private Military Aircraft Plant

On October 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez inaugurated India's first private military aircraft plant, the Tata Aircraft Complex, located in Vadodara, Gujarat. This facility will produce the Airbus C-295 transport aircraft, with 40 units being assembled in India and 16 supplied directly from Spain, as part of a $2.5 billion deal. Modi emphasized the project's alignment with India's 'Make in India' initiative and its potential to enhance local manufacturing and create thousands of jobs. Sanchez highlighted the collaboration as a pivotal step in strengthening India-Spain industrial ties and attracting European investments. The initiative aims to bolster India's self-reliance in defense manufacturing while positioning it as a key player in global aerospace supply chains. This marks a significant shift towards private sector involvement in India's defense production, previously dominated by state-run enterprises.