Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), India’s leading private sector player for aerospace and defence solutions, has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters to establish India’s first Final Assembly Line (FAL) to produce ‘Make in India’ H125 civil helicopters. It heralds a significant milestone as it marks the private sector’s foray into setting up a helicopter assembly facility in India. The FAL will produce Airbus’s popular helicopter from its civil range for India and neighbouring countries. The contract was formally signed at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. On January 26 of this year, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran announced this strategic collaboration.
Helicopters assembled at this FAL will be delivered to customers in India and neighbouring countries. The deliveries of the first ‘Made in India’ H125s are expected to commence in 2026. Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus Helicopters are well advanced in their joint selection of the location of the FAL, which will be communicated soon, stated the press release.
“We are pleased to partner with Airbus to establish the final assembly line for H125 helicopters in India. This collaboration, built on TASL’s expertise in airborne platforms and the strength of our ongoing partnership with the Airbus Group, aligns with the ‘Make in India’ initiative and addresses India’s growing helicopter market potential. The project will enhance helicopter manufacturing capabilities in India and support the growth of civil aviation in India,” said Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems Limited.
The FAL will integrate the major component assemblies, avionics, and mission systems, install electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel systems, and engines, and, according to Airbus’s statement, test and qualify the helicopters.
“India is a country with great potential for helicopters, and we believe that there is no better way to unlock this promising market than with a ‘Made in India’ H125 helicopter. We are confident that a locally assembled helicopter will open new civil and para-public markets such as the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services and other public services, making helicopters a critical component of nation-building. We are delighted that we are embarking on this pioneering journey with our trusted partner, the Tata Group, with whom Airbus already has a multi-faceted partnership,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
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 over 40 million flight hours worldwide. It can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments. It can be easily reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport, etc. According to Airbus, the H125 is the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest, demonstrating its agility in high-altitude, extreme environments.
Team BharatShakti
