Spain Is Becoming One Of India’s Most Reliable Defence Allies

India and Spain are collaborating closely to improve India’s naval and air defence capabilities. Accordingly, India can think about purchasing five naval submarines from Spain. This comes after an agreement India and Spain reached for the purchase of 56 C295MW Airbus planes valued at Euro 2.5 billion to replace the AVRO fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

“India is thinking about purchasing submarines, and a number of nations, including Spain, are competing in the tender. In terms of quality, price, knowledge transfer, and indigenization, Spain believes that Navantia’s (a Spanish company) offer is very competitive. If the Indian government accepts the offer, Navantia will be responsible for supplying the Indian Navy with cutting-edge conventional Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) submarines “Jose Maria Ridao, Spain’s ambassador to India, reportedly informed this newspaper.

In the meantime, India and Spain struck a contract for the purchase of 56 Airbus planes for Euro 2.5 billion.

“The strong potential between our two countries is exemplified by this contract. It highlights the significance of Spain’s defence sector while also supporting the “Make in India” initiative. In that regard, the first 16 aircraft will be constructed in Seville, and Tatas will produce the remaining 40 aircraft with aid from Spain “Added Ambassador Ridao.

This programme, the first of its kind in the commercial sector under the “Make in India” initiative, will cover the whole lifecycle of an aeroplane, from production to assembly, testing and certification, to delivery and maintenance.

“The first 16 aircraft will be delivered by Airbus from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, in “fly-away” condition in accordance with the contract. As part of an industrial collaboration between the two businesses, the following 40 aircraft will be produced and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India “announced a Tatas representative.

Four years following the contract’s implementation, the first 16 aircraft will be delivered. The IAF C295MW planes will all be transferred in transport mode and furnished with a domestic electronic warfare suite.

The C295 is utilised for tactical transport of up to 71 infantry or 50 paratroopers and for logistic operations to regions that are inaccessible to current heavier aircraft because of its demonstrated ability to operate from short or unprepared airstrips.

In contrast, Spain’s imports have increased by three times more recently than its exports.

“The value of Spanish exports in 2021 was €1,496.53 million, while imports from India totaled €4,200.10 million, for a coverage percentage of 35.6 percent.

Spanish exports to India totaled €731.9 million during the first five months of 2022, while imports from India totaled €2,466.7 million, for a coverage percentage of 29.67 percent.