Airbus Helicopters will set up a final assembly line (FAL) in India through a partnership with Tata Group. The agreement, announced on Friday during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to New Delhi for India’s Republic Day event, covers production of the company’s H125 single-engine helicopter.
Tata and Airbus have yet to confirm the exact location for the FAL, which will be the first helicopter manufacturing site in India established by the private sector. The H125s produced in the facility will be for the domestic market, as well as for export to some neighboring countries.
The Indian FAL will be responsible for integration of major component assemblies, avionics, and mission systems, in addition to installation of electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel systems, and engines. Airbus will establish the operation with Tata Advanced Systems Limited over the next 24 months and said it anticipates the first Indian-made H125s will be delivered in 2026.
“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,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “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.”