Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems to Build H125 Helicopters in India; First Delivery Expected in 2027
Part of Airbus’ Ecureuil family, the H125 has logged over 40 million flight hours worldwide and is renowned for performance in extreme conditions.
New Delhi, October 2: In a landmark step for India’s aerospace sector, Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will set up the country’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vemagal, Karnataka, to manufacture the Airbus H125 helicopters.
The facility will assemble, integrate, and flight-test the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, marking Tata’s entry into rotorcraft manufacturing. Deliveries of the first Made-in-India H125 are expected by early 2027, with export opportunities planned across South Asia.
Civil and Defence Potential
The H125 will serve a wide range of roles including medical evacuation, disaster relief, tourism, and law enforcement. Airbus and Tata also plan to develop a military variant, the H125M, tailored for India’s armed forces, particularly for operations in high-altitude Himalayan terrain. With high levels of localisation, the H125M is positioned as a successor to the legacy Cheetah and Chetak helicopters built under Airbus’ earlier collaboration with HAL.
Industry Leaders Speak
“India is an ideal helicopter country. A Made-in-India helicopter will help position rotorcraft as an essential tool for nation-building,” said Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India & South Asia.
Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD of TASL, called the project “a strategic extension” of Tata’s aerospace capabilities. “We are proud to be the first private sector company in India to build helicopters. This reinforces our partnership with Airbus and strengthens our role in civil and defence aviation,” he said.
Strengthening Aerospace Ecosystem
The H125 FAL is Airbus’ second major assembly project with TASL after the C295 military transport aircraft facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. Airbus already sources about $1.4 billion worth of components and services annually from India, ranging from aircraft doors and flap-track beams to helicopter cabin aerostructures.
The move aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, expanding domestic capability in both civil and defence aviation. Officials said the project will also boost employment, skills development, and ancillary industries, reinforcing India’s role in the global aerospace supply chain.
About the H125
Part of Airbus’ Ecureuil family, the H125 has logged over 40 million flight hours worldwide and is renowned for performance in extreme conditions. It holds the record as the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest, underscoring its high-altitude capabilities.
