In a major boost to ‘Make in India’,
Airbus Helicopters has announced that it is partnering with the
Tata Group to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for helicopters in the country which will produce Airbus’ best-selling H125 helicopter from its civil range for India and neighbouring countries.
The FAL will be the first instance of the private sector setting up a helicopter manufacturing facility in India, providing a major boost to the Indian government’s 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) programme. Under this partnership,
www.tataadvancedsystems.com Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), a subsidiary of Tata Group, will set up the facility alongside Airbus Helicopters. The announcement was made during a two-day visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India as chief guest at the
Republic Day celebrations on 26 January.
The FAL in India will undertake the integration of the major component assemblies, avionics and mission systems, installation of electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel system and the engine. It will also do testing, qualification, and delivery of the H125 to customers in India and the region. The FAL will take two years to set up and deliveries of the first ‘Made in India’ H125s are expected to start in 2026. The location of the FAL will be jointly decided by Airbus and the Tata Group.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said: “Helicopters are crucial for nation building. A ‘Made-in-India’ civil helicopter will not only be a symbol of the confident New India but will also unlock the true potential of the helicopter market in the country. This helicopter final assembly line, which we will build together with our trusted partner Tata, is a reaffirmation of Airbus’ commitment to developing the full spectrum of the aerospace ecosystem in India. This will be the second final assembly line Airbus is building in the country, following in the footsteps of the ‘Make in India’ C295 military aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.”
N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, said: “The Tata Group is delighted to set up India’s first helicopter assembly facility in the private sector. This facility will house the FAL in partnership with Airbus for the Airbus H125 single-engine helicopter for India as well as export markets.”
Undisputed in its class, the H125 produced in India will catalyse the use of helicopters in the country. This multi-mission workhorse will revolutionise passenger and goods transportation and will also be used for segments such as emergency medical services (HEMS), disaster management, law enforcement, tourism and aerial work missions. Providing last mile connectivity to remote areas, the H125 will significantly contribute to India’s regional connectivity scheme – Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) that will further promote the tourism sector in the country.
The H125 is the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter that outclasses other helicopters in its category. This high-performing versatile helicopter is a member of Airbus’ Ecureuil family, which has accumulated more than 38 million flight hours worldwide. It can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments and can be easily reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport, and many others.
The H125 is the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest, demonstrating its agility in operating at high altitude and in extreme environments. The proposed helicopter manufacturing facility will be the second FAL to be established in India by Airbus, leveraging TASL’s capabilities in aerospace and defence. The two companies are already building the C295 military transport aircraft FAL in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The latest announcement is part of Airbus’ efforts to develop a holistic aerospace ecosystem in India, where the company is expanding its industrial footprint with aircraft assembly, component manufacturing, engineering and digital design and development, MRO support, and pilot and maintenance training.