Airbus and Tata to Produce H125 Helicopters in India by 2026

Airbus Helicopters and Tata Advanced Systems Limited are set to produce H125 helicopters in India by 2026, marking the first civil helicopter production line in the private sector.

Key Points

• Airbus Helicopters and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) are establishing a production line for H125 helicopters in India.
• This facility will be the first of its kind in the private sector for civil helicopter production.
• The final location for the facility is being decided, with the groundbreaking ceremony expected by year-end.
• Initial production will be 10 helicopters per year, with plans to ramp up based on demand.
• The first H125 helicopter is expected to roll out of the Indian facility in 2026, aimed at both domestic and South Asian markets.

Airbus Helicopters, in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), is setting up a production line in India for the H125 helicopter. This marks the fourth global facility for the H125 and the first for a civil helicopter in the private sector within India. Senior Airbus officials announced the plan on Sunday, highlighting the goal of producing 500 light helicopters over the next 20 years.

The location for the assembly line is still being finalized, with considerations including employee attraction, industrial suitability, and logistics. “We will soon make the announcement on where the H125 will be built in India. The factors that will guide the decision include how attractive the location is to our employees, its suitability for industrial activity, and the logistics ecosystem,” said Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters.

The Airbus-Tata partnership aims to boost the “Make in India” initiative, with an expected initial production of ten helicopters annually, scaling up as orders increase. The new facility’s groundbreaking ceremony is expected around the end of the year, with the first H125 helicopter rolling out in 2026. These helicopters will be produced for both domestic use and export to South Asian countries.

Michalon’s comments came during an interaction with Indian journalists at Airbus’ Marignane helicopter facility near Marseille, France. He emphasized the potential of India’s helicopter market and how the H125 fits into this landscape. The Airbus-Tata collaboration, announced during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in January 2024, is part of a broader roadmap for defense-industrial cooperation between India and France.

This new assembly line will be Airbus’ second major production facility in India, following the ongoing ₹21,935-crore project with TASL to equip the Indian Air Force with 56 C-295 aircraft. The project, initiated in 2021, aims to modernize the IAF’s transport fleet with the European aircraft maker delivering 16 planes in flyaway condition and assembling the remaining 40 in India at a Tata facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Airbus Helicopters believes that lessons learned from the C-295 project will be beneficial. “We share information within the group and learn from best practices. We also look at what could have been done better. So, there will be a learning curve for us,” Michalon said.

The C-295 deliveries are progressing, with the last of the flyaway aircraft set to be delivered by August 2025, and the first “made in India” C-295 expected by September 2026. Similarly, the first Indian-assembled H125 is also scheduled for 2026. TASL will manage major component assemblies, avionics, mission systems, flight controls, hydraulic circuits, fuel systems, and the engine, with support and guidance from Airbus Helicopters.

The H125’s engine and gearbox will be sourced from France, the main airframe from Germany, and the tail boom from Spain. The Indian assembly line will replicate the quality and safety standards of the H125 production line in Marignane, ensuring high-quality processes and operational efficiency.

The 2.8-tonne H125 can carry up to six passengers, fly at a maximum altitude of 23,000 feet, and has a range of 630 km with a top speed of 250 kmph. It is suited for roles such as commercial transport, law enforcement, emergency medical services, disaster management, offshore industry, and firefighting duties.

The Indian military helicopter segment, dominated by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has seen significant growth with platforms like the advanced light helicopter, light combat helicopter, and light utility helicopter. However, the private sector’s involvement is crucial for continued development, according to aviation expert Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd). “The H125s from India will be sold to other countries too. It will enhance India’s visibility as an exporter,” Chopra said.