New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the H125 helicopter Final Assembly Line facility on Tuesday, February 17. Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Airbus H125 at Vemagal in Karnataka, a major step towards strengthening India’s aerospace manufacturing and capabilities.
It will be the first time that the Indian private sector takes care of the manufacturing, integration, testing, and maintenance of a rotary-wing platform under the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ project. It will produce the H125 helicopter and most probably produce its military version in the future, also.
“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,” said N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons.
Officials described the H125 helicopter as a pivotal moment in India’s aerospace ecosystem, as it will improve the availability for Indian operators through maintenance and lifecycle support. This will be the first ‘Made in India’ helicopter, which is scheduled for delivery in early 2027, and after that, it will be available for export across South Asia.
H125 helicopter in civil domain
The H125 is part of the Ecureuil family, with over 40 million flight hours globally, and is the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter. It is known for its high-altitude performance; it is the only helicopter to have landed on the summit of Mount Everest, highlighting its suitability for operations in challenging environments.
The H125 also helps in the civil domain, like support in emergency medical services, disaster management, law enforcement, and regional connectivity, including routes under the government’s UDAN scheme.
The project follows the Tata-Airbus collaboration on the C295 military transport aircraft assembly line, reinforcing a growing defence-industrial partnership and deepening India’s integration into the global aerospace supply chain.