Airbus Helicopters and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) are advancing plans to establish an assembly line for the H125 helicopter in India. The initiative, which represents a private-sector entry into civil helicopter production in the country, is nearing a site selection. Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are the states under consideration, with a decision expected soon.
The production line is set to commence operations in 2026, with an initial capacity of 10 H125 helicopters annually. Airbus anticipates a regional demand for approximately 500 light helicopters in the H125 category over the next 20 years, driven by applications in commercial transport, law enforcement, emergency medical services, disaster management, and other sectors.
The H125 helicopter, weighing 2.8 tonnes, has a range of 630 kilometers and a maximum speed of 250 km/h. It is currently manufactured in France, the United States, and Brazil.
The Airbus-TASL collaboration, announced in January 2024, will see TASL managing component assembly, avionics integration, and mission systems installation. Airbus will provide technology transfer and training. Core components, including engines and gearboxes, will be sourced from France, with additional parts supplied from Germany and Spain.
This venture builds on Airbus’s existing partnerships in India, including a ₹21,935-crore contract with TASL for manufacturing C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The project is expected to contribute to the growth of India’s aerospace manufacturing sector.