The first ‘Made in India’ C-295 military transport aircraft is expected to roll out of the factory before September 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on January 21, underscoring India’s commitment to building resilient and indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
Speaking during a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in New Delhi, Jaishankar said the milestone reflects the growing depth of defence industrial cooperation between India and Spain.
He noted that the world order is undergoing profound change and stressed the importance of collaboration among nations to address shared challenges, particularly terrorism. Jaishankar asserted that the global community must adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism, adding that both India and Spain have suffered from its impact.
Referring to defence cooperation, the External Affairs Minister said India is procuring 56 C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force under a ₹21,935 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space. Of these, 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India, marking a significant boost to the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
He recalled that in October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez inaugurated the C-295 final assembly line in Vadodara, a key step towards localisation of production.
Jaishankar highlighted that the economic partnership between India and Spain remains a vital pillar of bilateral relations. He said Spain is among India’s important trade partners in the European Union, with bilateral trade in goods crossing $8 billion in recent years.
Spanish companies, he said, have a strong presence in India in sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, engineering and water management, while Indian firms are active in Spain in information technology, pharmaceuticals and automotive components. He added that there is significant potential to further deepen business cooperation.
The External Affairs Minister thanked Spain for its support for stronger India–EU ties and welcomed Spain’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. He also mentioned that India will host the AI Impact Summit next month, noting that India’s approach to artificial intelligence is human-centric, inclusive and focused on responsible and ethical use, closely aligned with Europe’s outlook.
India and Spain, Jaishankar said, share warm and friendly relations rooted in democratic values, multilateralism and a rules-based international order. The two countries will mark 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, which will also be celebrated as the India–Spain Dual Year of Culture and Tourism.
He added that growing people-to-people ties, reflected in the popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda in Spain and increasing interest in Spanish language and culture in India, continue to strengthen the overall partnership.
