Tata, Airbus to set up India's first private helicopter assembly line in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and European aerospace major Airbus are jointly establishing India's first privately led helicopter final assembly line (FAL) for the H125 helicopter in Kolar, Karnataka.
TASL acquired 740,000 square feet of industrial land in the Vemagal Industrial Area, where the company is building a fully integrated facility covering manufacturing, final assembly, and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) operations, govt sources told TOI. The plant is scheduled to commence operations in 2026.
This project will make India the fourth country globally to host an H125 final assembly line, following existing facilities in France, the US, and Brazil.
The Indian plant is expected to produce ten H125 helicopters annually in its initial phase, with provisions to ramp up capacity in alignment with Airbus's forecast for over 500 H125-class helicopters to be required across the Asia-Pacific region over the next two decades.
The Vemagal facility will handle key integration tasks, including avionics and mission systems, electrical harnesses, hydraulic systems, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel systems, and engine integration.
The plant will also undertake full testing and qualification procedures, aligning with Airbus's global safety and certification protocols.
Karnataka was selected for the investment after a competitive bidding process that also involved Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Sources told TOI that Karnataka's established aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, skilled talent base, and existing infrastructure gave it an edge.
The Airbus H125 is a leading platform in the intermediate single-engine helicopter category, holding about 80% global market share with over 4,300 units in service worldwide. It belongs to Airbus's Écureuil family and has collectively logged more than 38 million flight hours. The new facility marks a strategic step in India's efforts to build indigenous capabilities in rotorcraft manufacturing and deepen private-sector participation in defence and aerospace production.
Queries sent to TASL and Airbus seeking comment on the project remained unanswered till the time of going to the press.
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