Tata and Airbus launch H125 helicopter final assembly line in India
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus have opened India’s first private-sector final assembly line for the Airbus H125 helicopter at Vemagal in the state of Karnataka.
The assembly line was virtually inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, in the presence of India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, French Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin, India’s Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, and senior executives from both Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus.
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The facility aims to produce both the civil H125 and potentially its military variant, the H125M, with deliveries of the first ‘Made in India’ H125 scheduled for early 2027.
Tata and Airbus plan to make these helicopters available for domestic use as well as export across South Asia.
The collaboration marks the first instance of an Indian private company manufacturing, integrating, testing, and maintaining an advanced rotary-wing platform within the country.
This initiative is expected to offer Indian operators direct access to technology, local maintenance support, and increased helicopter availability.
Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said: “We are proud to establish the H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line, a first in the private sector in India – a landmark step in the nation’s journey towards self-reliance in aerospace and defence.
“This facility reflects the growing depth of India’s industrial capabilities and the strength of our long-standing partnership with Airbus. Together, we are contributing to the creation of a globally competitive aerospace ecosystem in India.”
Minister Rajnath Singh expects investment in the H125 programme to exceed Rs10bn ($110m) and anticipates the creation of direct and indirect employment opportunities for youth.
The Airbus H125, part of the Ecureuil family with over 40 million flight hours globally, serves as a high-altitude force multiplier across a range of critical missions.
It is utilised by military forces for training, as well as by law enforcement agencies for surveillance, border patrol, search operations, command and control activities, rescue efforts, and special operations.
The civil configuration supports tasks such as firefighting, aerial survey work, crop spraying, passenger transport, emergency medical services, and business aviation.
“The H-125 has proven to be one of the most effective and trusted single-engine helicopters globally,” Rajnath Singh said.
This venture follows a previous collaboration between Tata and Airbus on the C295 military transport aircraft final assembly line in India.
