Airbus announced on Wednesday that it will establish a production line for its H125 helicopters in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) at Vemagal, Karnataka. This will be the first helicopter final assembly line (FAL) in India’s private sector and the fourth such facility worldwide.
The ‘Made in India’ H125 will serve both civil and para-public markets, while also meeting the Indian armed forces’ demand for a light multi-role helicopter capable of operating in high-altitude terrains such as the Himalayas. Airbus also plans to roll out a military variant, the H125M, with significant indigenisation of parts and technologies.
The first helicopter from this Indian facility is expected by early 2027, with exports planned for South Asian countries as well. Initially, the plant will produce 10 helicopters annually, with scope to expand as demand rises. Airbus estimates a requirement of nearly 500 H125-class helicopters across India and South Asia over the next two decades.
“India is an ideal helicopter country. A domestically built H125 will strengthen the market and make helicopters an essential tool for nation-building,” said Jurgen Westermeier, President, Airbus India and South Asia.
TASL CEO Sukaran Singh added, “This makes Tata Advanced Systems the first private sector company in India to manufacture helicopters. It strengthens both civil and defence capabilities and marks our second final assembly line with Airbus, after the C-295 transport aircraft project.”
The Airbus-TASL partnership for H125 production was first announced in January 2024 during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The 2.8-tonne H125 can carry up to six passengers, reach a maximum altitude of 23,000 feet, cover a range of 630 km, and cruise at 250 kmph. Its versatility makes it suitable for roles such as passenger transport, law enforcement, disaster response, emergency medical services, firefighting, and offshore operations.
Currently, the H125 is manufactured only in France, the US, and Brazil. At the Indian FAL, TASL will manage assembly of major components, avionics, mission systems, hydraulics, fuel systems, and engine integration, with Airbus providing training and technical support. Key parts such as the engine and gearbox will come from France, the main airframe from Germany, and the tail boom from Spain.
This project marks Airbus’ second final assembly line in India, after the ongoing ₹1,935-crore collaboration with TASL to build 56 C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. While 16 have already been delivered in flyaway condition, the rest will be manufactured in Vadodara, Gujarat, with the first Indian-assembled C-295 expected in September 2026.
