During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to New Delhi, a series of commitments were made, including an agreement between the two companies to collaborate on the production of H125 helicopters.
Tata group and Airbus from France have recently signed an agreement to manufacture civilian helicopters that will have a significant indigenous and localisation component. This collaboration was announced by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Friday. As part of the deal, the two companies will work together to produce H125 helicopters, which was one of the commitments made during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to New Delhi.
The agreement entails the integration of major component assemblies, avionics, and mission systems, as well as the installation of electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel systems, and engines. Additionally, the partnership will involve testing, qualification, and delivery of the H125 helicopters to customers in India and the surrounding region. The establishment of the final assembly line (FAL) is expected to take 24 months, with the first ‘Made in India’ H125 helicopters anticipated to be delivered in 2026.
The location of the FAL will be determined jointly by Airbus and the Tata Group. Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus, expressed the significance of helicopters in nation building and highlighted that a ‘Made-in-India’ civil helicopter will not only represent the confident New India but also unlock the true potential of the helicopter market in the country.