Tata to build Airbus H125 helicopter FAL in India

Source | Airbus

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL, New Delhi, India) is to build a private sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vemagal, Karnataka, India, which will produce Airbus’ (Toulouse, France) H125 helicopters. The move is set to expand South Asia’s potential in the rotorcraft market. 

The “Made in India” H125 helicopter will develop new civil and para-public market segments and also meet the Indian armed force’s requirement for a light multi-role helicopter, especially on the icy heights of the country’s Himalayan frontiers. Plans include a military version, the H125M, to be offered out of this Indian factory with high levels of indigenized components and technologies.

Tata intends to undertake manufacturing and testing of H125 helicopters including assembly, integration and testing of structural mechanical, electrical systems and components into a complete helicopter and final flight tests required before the delivery of the helicopter to customers, which is expected to begin in early 2027. The helicopter will be available for exports in the South Asian region as well.

“This is our second FAL in collaboration with Airbus and further reinforces the partnership between Tata and Airbus for India,” says Sukaran Singh, CEO of managing director of Tata Advanced Systems Ltd.

Tata is well placed in the Indian aerospace sector with capabilities to build and deliver fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Its Composite Center of Excellence supports aerospace, space and defense applications, offering expertise in monolithic and sandwich layup, nondestructive testing and quality management systems, and more. This expertise is being proven in the company’s production of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage, a new contract for aerostructure assemblies with FACC and work with Airbus’ C295 aircraft, to name a few.

Airbus’ relationship with India began more than 60 years ago on the back of an industrial collaboration agreement with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to produce the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which have served the Indian armed forces with distinction. 

The H125 FAL is the second Airbus aircraft assembly plant Tata Advanced Systems is building in India, after the C295 military aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat — demonstrating Airbus’ long-term commitment to developing a holistic aerospace ecosystem in India across all dimensions: manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, design, digital and human capital development. Airbus sources components and services worth about $1.4-plus billion every year from India, including complex systems such as aircraft doors, flap-track beams and helicopter cabin aerostructures.

The H125, a single-engine helicopter with an accumulated 40 million flight hours worldwide, is already highly composites-intensive, which is supported by the Composites Shop Center of Excellence at Airbus Helicopters in Fort Erie, Canada. This facility delivers everything from engine cowlings to fairings and coverings.