Gujarat to Soon Host India’s First Private Aircraft Manufacturing Facility: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that Gujarat will soon house an aircraft manufacturing facility, with spare parts production set to take place in the engineering hub of Rajkot. Speaking at a rally in Rajkot, Modi hailed the region’s rapid industrial growth, particularly its MSME-driven engineering sector.
“There was a time when Gujarat didn’t produce even a bicycle. Today, cars are made here, exported to Japan, and their spare parts come from Rajkot. Mark my words — the day is not far when Gujarat will build aeroplanes, and Rajkot will make their spares,” he said, amid loud cheers.
The announcement follows a ₹20,000 crore deal between the Defence Ministry and European aviation giant Airbus for 56 C-295 transport aircraft. Under the agreement, the first 16 aircraft will be delivered from Airbus’s facility in Seville, Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured and assembled in India by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL).
Dholera, near Ahmedabad, and Vadodara are among the prime locations shortlisted for the final assembly line. Once operational, the facility is expected to not only strengthen India’s defence manufacturing capabilities but also cement Gujarat’s role as a major aerospace hub.
