An agreement has been signed by Airbus and the Tata group to co-manufacture the H125 single-engine helicopters made by the European aircraft manufacturer and to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for commercial use in Vadodara, Gujarat.
By mid-2024, the 36-acre FAL will be prepared, and by November of that same year, operations will begin. Airbus’s Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) line in Hyderabad will supply the parts used in the FAL, which will then be shipped to Vadodara for final assembly.
Under the terms of the agreement, they will also produce at least forty C-295 transport aircraft at the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd.-supervised facility in Vadodara (TASL).
On January 26, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra declared that agreements had been reached between France and India on a defence space partnership and a roadmap for the defence industry.
According to him, the agreement was inked during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to India.
The Tata Group is thrilled to open India’s first private helicopter assembly plant, according to N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons.
“This facility will have the final assembly line in partnership with Airbus for the world’s bestselling Airbus H125 single-engine helicopter for the Indian as well as export markets,” stated Chandrasekaran.
The joint venture in the aerospace and defence industry is exemplified by the industrial partnership between Tata and Airbus for the production of H125 helicopters, with a notable emphasis on local, indigenous components.
The strengthening of diplomatic relations has been aided by the expanding ties between France and India, particularly in the areas of nuclear energy, space exploration, and defence.
Modi was present at the 2023 Bastille Day celebrations in France, where plans to buy more submarines and unveil Rafale fighter jets were revealed.
The Tata-Airbus H125 agreement is anticipated to meet the increasing demand for these helicopters in India, which is expected to come from a variety of industries, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and applications for both medical emergency response and cargo transportation.
According to a statement from Airbus, the H125 built in India is anticipated to stimulate helicopter usage in that nation.
“The multi-mission H125 helicopter will revolutionise passenger and goods transportation and will also be used for segments such as emergency medical services (HEMS), disaster management, law enforcement, tourism and aerial work missions,” stated Airbus.
The Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) regional connectivity program of the Indian government is anticipated to benefit from the H125 as well, further bolstering the nation’s tourism industry.
A market for these kinds of aircraft exists in India, as evidenced by reports indicating an urgent need for up to 800 choppers.
India joined the select group of only a dozen or so nations that are able to produce C-295 transport aircraft when Modi laid the foundation stone of the Tata-Airbus facility in 2023. It is anticipated that the project will provide significant support to the government’s ‘Make In India’ initiative.
The facility is part of a deal worth Rs 21,935 crore that was announced a year ago.
Between Airbus and TASL, various agreements are in place. The production and supply of parts for Airbus’s commercial aircraft, which includes the A320 and A350, was recently announced by TASL.
The Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara is being planned in cooperation with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), according to a 2018 announcement made by Jorge Tamarit, Head of Airbus’s C-295 India Program.
In September 2026, the first aircraft made in India would be delivered.
Airbus is scheduled to deliver the first C-295 transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force in September 2023. The second C-295 is scheduled to be delivered in May 2024, and seven more C-295s, one per month, will follow in 2024.
The Defence Ministry and Airbus and Space S.A., Spain inked a Rs 22,000-crore agreement in September 2021 for the purchase of 56 C-295MW transport planes to replace the Avro planes currently in IAF service.
According to the contract, 40 aircraft would be produced in India by Airbus in collaboration with TASL, and 16 aircraft would arrive in fly-away condition from the Airbus facility in Seville.
With a 9-ton capacity, the C-295 can accommodate up to 50 paratroopers or 71 soldiers. IAF will eventually overtake all other operators as the main C-295 operator.
About the Helicopter
Unmatched in its class, the Indian-made H125 is set to revolutionize helicopter usage in the nation. It is poised to transform emergency medical services (HEMS), tourism, law enforcement, emergency and freight transportation, and aerial work missions as a multi-mission workhorse. The H125 will improve last-mile connectivity to remote areas as part of the Government of India’s regional connectivity scheme, Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), which will further boost the travel and tourism industry.
Compared to other helicopters in the same class, the H125 is the best-selling single-engine helicopter globally. It is a member of the Ecureuil family of Airbus and has an amazing 38 million flight hours worldwide. It can be easily reconfigured for a variety of missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, and passenger transport. It can operate in high-temperature and extreme environments.
About AIRBUS
A multinational aerospace company based in Europe is called Airbus. There are three main divisions within the company. Although designing and building commercial aircraft is its main business, it also operates independent helicopter, space, and defence divisions. As of 2019, Airbus is both the biggest airliner and the top helicopter manufacturer in the world. Airbus Market Capital $117.76 billion.
