Tata, Airbus: Only Helicopter H125 That Landed On Mount Everest To Be Produced In India For First Time

On the occasion of Republic Day, during the two-day visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India as Chief Guest on January 26, India's billion dollars worth conglomerate Tata Group is set to bring the first civil range best-selling H125 helicopters in the country. Tata has partnered with Airbus Helicopters to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for helicopters, a big boost for 'Make in India'.

As per the statement, the FAL will be the first instance of the private sector setting up a helicopter manufacturing facility in India, providing a major boost to the Government of India's 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) programme.

Under the deal, Tata Group-backed subsidiary Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will set up the facility along with Airbus Helicopters.

N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, of Tata Sons, said, "The Tata Group is delighted to set up India's first helicopter assembly facility in the private sector. This facility will have the final assembly line in partnership with Airbus for the world's bestselling Airbus H125 single-engine helicopter for the Indian as well as export markets."

FAL in India will undertake the integration of the major component assemblies, avionics and mission systems, installation of electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel system and the engine.

Further, Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO said, "Helicopters are crucial for nation building. A 'Made-in-India' civil helicopter will not only be a symbol of the confident New India but will also unlock the true potential of the helicopter market in the country."

Faury added, "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. 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."

Also, FAL will do the testing, qualification, and delivery of the H125 to customers in India and the region.

It said, the FAL will take 24 months to set up and deliveries of the first 'Made in India' H125s are expected to commence in 2026. The location of the FAL will be jointly decided by Airbus and the Tata Group.

H125 is undisputed in its class and will be produced in India to catalyse the use of helicopters in the country. This multi-mission workhorse will revolutionise passenger and goods transportation and will also be used for segments such as emergency medical services (HEMS), disaster management, law enforcement, tourism and aerial work missions.

Offering last-mile connectivity to remote areas, the H125 will significantly contribute to the Government of India's regional connectivity scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) which will further promote the tourism sector in the country.

H125 is one of a kind! It is the world's best-selling single-engine helicopter that outclasses other helicopters in its category. This high-performing versatile helicopter is a member of Airbus' Ecureuil family, which has accumulated more than 38 million flight hours worldwide.

H125 can also operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments and can be easily reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport, and many others.

Notably, the H125 is the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest, demonstrating its agility in operating in high-altitude, extreme environments.

The proposed helicopter manufacturing facility will be the second FAL to be established in India by Airbus, leveraging TASL's capabilities in aerospace and defence. The two companies are building the C295 military transport aircraft FAL in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Also, the latest announcement is part of Airbus' efforts to develop a holistic aerospace ecosystem in India, where the company is expanding its industrial footprint with aircraft assembly, component manufacturing, engineering and digital design and development, MRO support, pilot and maintenance training as well as academic collaboration to foster human capital.