On the eve of Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the inauguration of the C-295 aircraft manufacturing complex in Vadodara was a watershed moment for India’s defense and aerospace development.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Modi and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL)-Airbus facility. The facility will be dedicated to the production of C-295 military aircraft in India, marking a significant milestone in defense manufacturing. The Tata-Airbus factory is notably the first private final assembly line for military aircraft in the country.

Sharing his thoughts on a LinkedIn post, Modi said the speed of execution of the manufacturing complex is breathtaking.

“The speed of execution is breathtaking: from the first stone to operational installation in just two years! This is a clear manifestation of a new work culture and the capabilities of the Indian people,” he wrote.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s achievements in the following areas:

> Defense production: Increased to Rs 1.27 lakh crore by 2023-24.
> Defense exports: increased from Rs 1,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 21,000 crore currently.
> Indigenization: More than 12,300 articles have been indigenized in just 3 years.
> Investment: DPSUs have invested over Rs 7,500 crore with domestic suppliers.
> R&D budget: 25% of the defense R&D budget is allocated to innovation initiatives led by industry.

He also highlighted that India’s defense production reached Rs 1.27 trillion in the financial year 2023-24, with defense exports currently standing at Rs 21,000 crore.

Furthermore, he encouraged youth, startups, manufacturers and innovators to participate in the defense sector, highlighting the supportive policies and unprecedented opportunities available.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the significant progress made since past equipment shortages in achieving defense self-reliance. Indigenous warships now patrol the waters, domestically-made missiles have strengthened national security, and locally-made body armor protects soldiers. India is on the path to becoming self-sufficient in defense production and aims to establish itself as a leading manufacturer of high-quality defense equipment.