India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra announced on Friday that France’s Airbus and India’s Tata group had inked a deal to produce civilian helicopters “with a significant indigenous and localization component.” According to him, the deal was inked during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to India.
A defence industrial collaboration plan between France and India has solidified, according to Foreign Secretary Kwatra, who also announced other important achievements of yesterday night’s meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jaipur. He continued by saying that this would enable technical cooperation in a number of fields, including as space exploration, cyberwarfare, land warfare, and artificial intelligence, as well as the co-development and co-production of important military gear and systems.
Make in India Initiative
Airbus Helicopters and the Tata Group have formed a strategic cooperation to construct a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for helicopters in India, marking a significant milestone for the “Make in India” project. This historic partnership fits in well with the government of India’s “AatmaNirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) programme as the first time the private sector has taken the lead in establishing a helicopter manufacturing plant in India.
As part of this revolutionary partnership, Airbus Helicopters and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a division of the Tata Group, will collaborate to co-manufacture the well-known H125 single-engine helicopters, which are the mainstay of Airbus’ civil fleet. These helicopters are meant to be exported to nearby nations as well as sold in India. In addition, the cooperation goes beyond the manufacture of helicopters and includes the joint assembly of at least 40 C-295 transport planes in India. These aircraft will be assembled at Vadodara, Gujarat, under the supervision of TASL.
This historic declaration was made in conjunction with Republic Day celebrations and the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron.
About the new collaboration of Airbus and TATA
The Tata-Airbus H125 collaboration intends to meet India’s growing need for helicopters, which has a variety of uses include transporting cargo, emergency medical care, and high-net-worth individuals. Information in the public domain indicates that there is an immediate need for up to 800 helicopters, demonstrating the clear market potential for this kind of aircraft in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the cornerstone for the Tata-Airbus plant in 2023, a momentous occasion that signalled India’s admission into a restricted club of countries that are able to produce C-295 cargo aircraft. Airbus and TASL have previously established several partnerships; most recently, TASL announced that it will produce and supply Airbus with parts for its commercial aircraft, such as the A320 and A350.
The testing, certification, and delivery of the H125 to clients in India and the surrounding area will also fall under the purview of the FAL. It is anticipated that the FAL would be established in a full year, and the first “Made in India” H125s will be delivered in 2026. Airbus and the Tata Group will decide on the FAL’s site together.
“Helicopters are crucial for nation building. A ‘Made-in-India’ civil helicopter will not only be a symbol of the confident New India but will also unlock the true potential of the helicopter market in the country,” Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO stated.
About the Helicopter
The Indian-made H125, which is unmatched in its class, is set to spur helicopter usage throughout the nation. It is a multi-purpose workhorse that will transform emergency medical services (EMS), tourism, law enforcement, emergency and freight transportation, and aerial work missions. By improving last-mile connection to rural places, the H125 would support the Government of India’s Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) regional connectivity project, which will further boost the tourist industry.
Among helicopters with one engine, the H125 is the most popular model worldwide, selling more than any other. As a member of the Airbus Ecureuil family, it has flown 38 million hours in total around the globe. It can operate in extremely hot and humid conditions and can be easily reconfigured for a variety of missions, including aerial work, law enforcement, firefighting, rescue, air ambulance, and passenger transport.
The H125 is the only helicopter to have successfully landed on Mount Everest, demonstrating its adaptability and agility in operating in harsh, high-altitude conditions.
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