In a major boost to India’s aerospace sector, the Tata Group, in collaboration with Airbus, is setting up the country’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Vemagal, Karnataka, to manufacture the Airbus H125 helicopter. The facility will assemble, test, and deliver both civil and military variants, with deliveries expected to begin by early 2027.
The project, announced following an agreement during French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2024 India visit, represents Airbus’s second major manufacturing venture in India after the C295 aircraft facility in Vadodara.
The H125, part of Airbus’s Ecureuil family, is a world-class single-engine helicopter famous for landing on Mount Everest and operating across varied terrains. In India, it will cater to civil aviation needs like tourism and emergency services, as well as defence operations in high-altitude regions.
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will handle full-scale manufacturing—from system integration to final flight testing—strengthening India’s capability in aerospace and defence production.
With India sourcing over $1.4 billion worth of components annually for global aerospace firms, this project positions the country as a key player in helicopter manufacturing and enhances its vision of becoming a global aviation hub.
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