Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus have announced that India’s first private-sector helicopter final assembly line will be set up in Vemagal, Kolar district, Karnataka. The facility will produce the Airbus H125 helicopters, marking a significant step for domestic aerospace manufacturing.
Made in India H125 for Civil and Defence Needs
The ‘Made in India’ H125 helicopter is designed to serve both civil and para-public markets while fulfilling the Indian armed forces’ need for a light multi-role helicopter. It is particularly suited for operations in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. Airbus and TASL plan to offer a military variant, the H125M, with a high degree of indigenised components and technology. The first locally assembled H125 is expected to be delivered by early 2027, with exports targeted to the South Asian region.
Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, said that a ‘Made in India’ helicopter will strengthen the domestic market and reinforce helicopters as vital tools for nation-building, while further deepening Airbus’s partnership with Tata.
Expanding Aerospace Manufacturing in India
This H125 assembly line is TASL’s second Airbus aircraft manufacturing facility in India, following the C295 military aircraft plant in Vadodara.
Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems, said the company is proud to be the first private-sector firm in India to build helicopters. The facility will support both civil and defence requirements, reinforcing Tata’s role in India’s aerospace sector and its capability to produce fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters for national needs.
