Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Airbus Helicopters have signed a deal to set up a final assembly line (FAL) in India for single-engine H125 choppers. This is the first instance of the private sector setting up a helicopter assembly facility in India. The FAL will produce H125 choppers for India and neighbouring countries.
The contract was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow, according to a statement by Airbus and TASL. The plan for the FAL was initially announced on January 26 by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. Deliveries of the first 'Made in India' H125s are expected to begin in 2026.
Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of TASL, in a company statement, said, “We are pleased to partner with Airbus to establish the final assembly line for H125 helicopters in India.”
He added, "This collaboration built on TASL's expertise in airborne platforms, and the strength of our ongoing partnership with the Airbus Group, aligns with the 'Make in India' initiative and addresses India's growing helicopter market potential."
Singh also noted that the project will enhance helicopter manufacturing capabilities in India and support the growth of civil aviation.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said, "India is a country with great potential for helicopters and we believe that there is no better way to unlock this promising market than with a 'Made in India' H125 helicopter.”
He added, "We are confident that a locally assembled helicopter will open new civil and parapublic markets such as the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services and other public services, making helicopters a critical component of nation-building."
According to the company, the FAL will integrate major component assemblies, avionics, mission systems, electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel systems, and the engine. The facility will also conduct testing and qualification of the helicopters.
Helicopters assembled at this FAL will be delivered to customers in India and neighbouring countries. TASL and Airbus are finalising the location for the FAL, which will be announced soon. The H125 is known as the world's best-selling single-engine helicopter, part of Airbus' Ecureuil family with over 40 million flight hours worldwide.
The H125 can operate in high-altitude, extreme environments and can be reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, and passenger transport. It is the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest, demonstrating its agility in high-altitude operations.