New chapter: PM at launch of private facility for military aircraft

Officials said the first Made in India aircraft are slated to be rolled out from September 2026, over 18,000 parts will be made indigenously, and over 10,000 jobs will be created across the country.

Modi also held bilateral talks with Sanchez, who is the first Spanish PM to visit India after 18 years. The two sides concluded agreements on cooperation in key sectors including infrastructure, railways, renewable energy, culture and tourism.

“Today, with the inauguration of the C295 (aircraft) plant, a new chapter of our partnership has begun. Our partnership is centuries old. The shared belief in values like democracy and rule of law binds us together,” Modi said in his opening remarks at the bilateral talks.

Of the 56 C295 aircraft being acquired for the IAF, 16 will be delivered from Spain. Of these, six have already arrived. (Reuters)

He said the visit of his Spanish counterpart had infused new energy and enthusiasm in relations between the two countries. India and Spain have strong cooperation in many areas like economy, defence, pharma, IT, science and technology, and renewable energy, and both the countries emphasise global peace, prosperity and cooperation, he said.

“People to people contact provides a strong foundation for our relations. India’s young talent is contributing to Spain’s green and digital transitions,” he said.

In view of the increasing relations between people, India has opened a new consulate in Barcelona, and welcomes Spain’s decision to open a new consulate in Bengaluru, Modi said. “I am confident that our talks today will contribute to making our partnership more dynamic and multifaceted,” he said.

Sanchez said the two countries complement each other, and Spain looks forward to advancing the cooperation. He said his visit would strengthen bilateral relations, and the “voice and influence” that the two countries have globally multiplies when they work together.

“I am also pleased that today we are endorsing an ambitious joint declaration framing the various areas of our collaboration. We celebrate the signing of several agreements in the fields of investment, railways, customs, cultural exchanges, and we look forward to strengthening the issues that reflect the richness and depth of our ties,” he said.

Sanchez said there is no doubt that the cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow across many other areas, pointing to the celebration of the Spain-India Year for Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence in 2026.

“Our countries complement each other. India plays a prominent role not just in the Indo-Pacific, but also in the wider context. Spain maintains privileged relations with Latin America, historic ties in the Middle East, increased presence in Africa, and is a leading voice in the European Union,” the Spanish PM said.

This geopolitical framework offers many opportunities for the two countries to reach different regions and develop closer and more productive relations, he said.

“India and Spain also share many goals, in particular (on) strengthening the multilateral order and preserving peace and democracy worldwide. We are fully committed to working together on those goals,” Sanchez said.

Challenges like climate emergency, fight against poverty and equality require the effort and political will of all international actors, he said. “India’s influence and leadership is essential to confront these issues, and so is Spain’s commitment and determination… we look forward to continuing advancing our great cooperation,” he said.

The MoU on cooperation in rail transport is expected to boost cooperation in planning, design, development, commissioning and operation of infrastructure, stations, railways facilities and equipment covering both long distance network for passenger and freight transport as well as urban and regional railway systems.

The agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters is expected to facilitate the exchange of information for prevention, detection, investigation and combating of customs offences.

Earlier in the day, the two leaders held a roadshow on a 2.5-km stretch from the airport to the TASL facility in Vadodara.

Speaking at the inauguration, Modi said the C295 aircraft factory is a reflection of the new work culture of new India. The speed — from the idea to the project execution — can be witnessed at the factory, whose foundation stone was laid in October 2022, he said.

Emphasising the focus on eliminating unaccounted delays in the planning and execution of projects, Modi recalled the setting-up of the Bombardier train coach manufacturing facility in Vadodara when he was the Gujarat chief minister. Metro coaches made in that factory are being exported, he said, as he expressed confidence that aircraft made in the TASL facility would also be exported.

Quoting Spanish poet Antonio Machado, Modi said: “As we start treading towards the goal, the path towards the goal is created automatically.” Noting that India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem is scaling new peaks, he said that if concrete steps were not taken 10 years ago, it would have been impossible to reach this destination.

A decade ago, the priority and identity of defence manufacturing was about import and nobody could imagine that defence manufacturing could take place on such a large scale in India, Modi said. “Our government decided to walk on a new path and set new goals for India, whose results are evident today,” he said. The transformation of India’s defence sector exemplifies how a right plan and partnership can turn possibilities into prosperity, Modi said.

Modi also mentioned Father Carlos Valles, a Spanish-Indian Jesuit priest and author, who lived in India for five decades and authored various books on mathematics in Gujarati. He enriched the culture with his thoughts and writings, Modi said, adding that he had been honoured with the Padma Shri award.

“While yoga is highly popular in Spain, Spanish football is liked in India,” Modi said. Dwelling on India and Spain’s multifaceted partnership, he said: “Whether it is food, films or football, our strong people-to-people connect has always strengthened our ties.”

The Airbus C295 is a medium tactical transport aircraft that was designed and initially manufactured by the Spanish aerospace company CASA, which is now a part of the European multinational Airbus defence and space division. The C295 can also be used for medical evacuations, disaster response, and maritime patrol duties.