On the occasion of French President Macron’s visit to New Delhi for India’s Republic Day celebrations, Airbus Helicopters and the Tata Group have announced they will establish a final assembly line (FAL) for H125s destined for Indian customers as well as for export to neighbouring countries.
The FAL, whose location has not yet been announced, 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 expectation is that the first ‘Made in India’ H125s will be delivered during 2026.
“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,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO. “This helicopter final assembly line, which we will build together with our trusted partner Tata, is a reaffirmation of Airbus’s commitment to developing the full spectrum of the aerospace ecosystem in India. This will be the second final assembly line Airbus is building in India after the ‘Make in India’ C295 military aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.”
Meanwhile, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, added, “The Tata Group is delighted to set up India’s first helicopter assembly facility in the private sector. This facility will have the final assembly line in partnership with Airbus for the world’s bestselling Airbus H125 single engine helicopter for the Indian as well as export markets.”
