Airbus to assemble H125 helicopters in India with partner Tata

The Airbus H125 is a single-engine helicopter that can carry up to 7 people. It can cruise at 136 knots and has a range of 340 NM.

French aerospace giant, Airbus, plans to build H125 helicopters in India.

In a major boost to India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat goals, Airbus will partner with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to set up an assembly line for H125 helicopters. The first made-in-India helicopter is expected to roll out in 2026.

Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business of Airbus Helicopters, said, “We have identified eight sites, which we are currently assessing…we are still in the final assessment stage, but stay tuned, we should be in a position to announce shortly.”

Michalon did not reveal the sites that are being considered for the new plant. However, he did mention that the ground-breaking ceremony could be held around October-November this year.

The plant will have an initial capacity of 10 helicopters per year, which could be increased to 50 units in the coming years.

“I know 10 doesn’t sound like a lot, but starting from scratch, it is not negligible. It could very well be 20, 30, or 50 in some years, depending on the market demand,” Michalon said.

Airbus estimates the demand for H125 class helicopters in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives to be around 500 units over the next 20 years. Currently, around 350 helicopters are operating in the civil and para-public space in the region, of which 250 are in India. Of the 140 Airbus helicopters in the region, 100 are in India.

The Airbus H125 is a single-engine helicopter. It can carry up to 7 people, including the pilot. The H125 can cruise at 136 knots and has a range of 340 NM. It is well suited for applications such as aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport and more.

Source: Indian Express