New Delhi, July 19 (IANS). Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu on Sunday said the potential of India’s aerospace sector is growing rapidly under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and the country is moving towards a future where citizens will travel in locally made aircraft.
The Union Minister shared the video of the first Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft manufactured in India, calling it a historic achievement for the country’s aerospace and defense manufacturing sector.
In a post on social media platform
The Union Minister said, “Visited TASL’s state-of-the-art facility in Vadodara where C-295 aircraft are being manufactured. This aircraft manufacturing facility is a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India. As India strengthens aerospace manufacturing capabilities, we are steadily moving towards a future where Indians will have the opportunity to fly with pride in ‘Made in India’ civil aircraft.”
Jointly developed by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, the C-295 is the first military aircraft to be manufactured in India by the private sector under the government’s flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative.
This aircraft is being manufactured under a $2.6 billion agreement to purchase 56 C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force in 2021.
Of these, 16 aircraft are being delivered from Spain in a completely ready state, while the remaining 40 aircraft are being assembled at the plant in Vadodara, Gujarat.
According to reports, dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for the C-295 fleet will also be developed at the upcoming Dholera airport in Gujarat, further strengthening India’s aerospace ecosystem.
The first C-295 aircraft assembled in India came off the final assembly line in May and completed its first successful test flight on June 10.
After this successful test flight, the Indian Air Force congratulated all the parties involved and described it as a historic milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in the field of aerospace and defense manufacturing.
–IANS
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