Latest news with #H125
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tata is giving wing to Make in India aviation dream
India's aim to achieve self-sufficiency in aerospace manufacturing is taking wings. Though India is rapidly developing as an exporter of aerospace components and services, manufacturing its own civil aircraft seems distant. However, one of India's largest conglomerates, Tata Group , is well on its way to make India a manufacturer of civil aircraft. Tata Group has taken a significant step on this journey. European aviation major Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), the aerospace arm of the Tata group, will set up the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the H125 helicopters in Kolar, Karnataka, as per an ET report. The facility is India's first privately-led helicopter assembly facility. It will produce Airbus' best-selling H125 helicopter from its civil range for India and the neighbouring countries and will be the fourth such facility in the world after France, US and Brazil. Also Read: Karnataka wins Tata-Airbus helicopter manufacturing unit The Karnataka helicopter manufacturing unit will be the second such venture by the Tata Group. Last year, the TASL set up a new C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat jointly with Airbus. The facility is India's first private-sector Final Assembly Line for military aircraft. These two ventures coming in less than 12 months underline India's resolve to start building civil aircraft indigenously which very few countries do. After inaugurating the Vadodara complex with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Tata-Airbus aircraft complex, which will produce the C295 military transport aircraft, can pave the way for developing and manufacturing civil aircraft too. "We are already working to make India an aviation hub. This ecosystem will pave the way for Made-in-India civil aircraft in the future... This factory is going to play a major role in the design and manufacturing of civil aircraft to meet the future needs of India and the world." Live Events You Might Also Like: Tata-Airbus plant: India's dream of making a civil aircraft taking off? Now with TASL building a civil helicopter factory in Karnataka, India is taking sure steps towards its ultimate goal to build a passenger aircraft. India's lofty dream For long, the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry has been in the grip of a strong duopoly of Boeing and Airbus, which hold between them nearly 90% of the market share because building a commercial aircraft is a complex process not easy to master. That's why India's lofty dream of building commercial aircraft indigenously is an ambitious goal. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. already makes fighter jets and is also in the process of making a 19-seater civil aircraft. But making a full commercial aircraft is much more difficult. For instance, China was able to put in air its first mainline commercial aircraft, COMAC C919, last year after decades of arduous development journey. Though the C919, which competes directly with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX 8, and is part of China's strategic push to secure a foothold in the global passenger jet market, it still falls short on international certifications and is reliant of Western technology. While China started its journey to build a mainline commercial aircraft decades ago, India is starting just now. Last year, Civil Aviation Minister KR Naidu indicated that India would soon enter into civil aircraft manufacturing. He talked about plans to create a special team in the form of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), drawing in industry experts, technicians and government representatives. He, however, acknowledged that there might be a need to source certain components or engines from other players initially, but the end goal was to develop a self-sustaining ecosystem where every part could eventually be manufactured within the country. The aim of the SPV was not to make a business model but rather to address broader concerns and bring in necessary reforms. Boeing and Airbus could be part of the SPV plans. Why India should manufacture commercial aircraft India's plans to build commercial aircraft indigenously come at an opportune time when demand and supply both bode well for such an enterprise. As India boasts a 1.4 billion population with dreams of being a developed nation by 2047, its economy will grow the fastest among the G20 nations, and a burgeoning middle class will spend more on air travel, as per an Airbus report. As a result, passenger traffic in India will grow exponentially at 6.2% per annum by 2040, the fastest among the major economies and well above the global average of 3.9%. To meet the growing need of the country's middle-class, Indian companies have placed an order of over 1,200 aircrafts but would need a total of 2,210 new aircraft over the next 20 years. India, like most other major economies, depends highly on sourcing aircrafts from Boeing and Airbus which have a duopoly in the industry. However, with growing demand for commercial aircraft in India as well as many other parts of the world such as Latin America and the Gulf region, supplies have not been able to keep pace. When demand is soaring and supply is unable to catch up in a sector dominated by just two giant manufacturers, the time is right for India to plan its foray into commercial aircraft manufacturing. It's not as easy as it may sound What will it take to start building an indigenous commercial plane? India's aviation manufacturing industry, which involves making of parts and components, has started growing. Both Boeing and Airbus have set up dedicated research, technology and development centres in India. In January last year, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center in Bengaluru. The Rs 1,600 crore, 43-acre campus, known to be Boeing's largest such investment outside the United States, will 'help develop next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defence industry'. While India has been supplying components of aircraft to companies including Boeing and Airbus, the country currently contributes a mere 5% to the global supply chain, lacking super-critical, high-complexity parts and technology to build a commercial aircraft from scratch. 'While manufacturing your own aircraft from scratch sounds great, and several have tried to, I don't see that as a near-term priority even with strong government-to-government involvement and the deepest of pockets,' Anuj Jhunjhunwala, CEO, JJG Aero, had told ET last year. Jhunjhunwala pointed out that the Japanese stopped at making business jets, several western military aircraft makers could not transition to commercial planes, and even the Chinese, who came close with the Comac, have been at it for nearly two decades and are still reliant on western technology. Instead of making a whole plane, the Indian ecosystem should focus on grabbing a larger share of the components supply chain first, he said. Commercial aircraft production demands scale, complexity and technological sophistication that far surpasses those required for military aircraft and even spacecraft, Pragya Priyadarshini, Vice-President at Primus Partners, had told ET last year. 'This entails meeting stringent international certification standards, extensive testing, and the development of cutting-edge innovations across multiple disciplines.' Maneck Behramkamdin, SVP & Business Head, Godrej Aerospace , had told ET that the skills (designing and making) for aircraft are fragmented at various levels — the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, MSMEs and startups. A national-level programme has to first integrate the stakeholders, especially as it is not a 'one-industry programme'. Possibly, the SPV being planned by the government will try to accomplish that first. Behramkamdin said only a government-funded programme will bear fruit as developing a new commercial aircraft requires tens of billions of dollars in capital. Else, there has to be a mechanism for payback. As per a PwC-CII report, the cost of forming the industry line runs into billions of dollars. In the case of China, C919's development received between $49 billion and $72 billion from the government between 2008 and 2020. Besides huge investment, India would also need tie-ups with global giants since it's impossible to start out with a completely indigenous aircraft built from scratch in India. The Tata-Airbus plants, despite one for a defence transport venture and another for a civil helicopter, could contribute to the Made-in-India civil aircraft project by strengthening the local manufacturing ecosystem.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
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.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tata-Airbus to set up India's first private helicopter assembly line in Karnataka
Tata-Airbus to set up India's first private helicopter assembly line in Karnataka BENGALURU: Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and European aerospace major Airbus are jointly establishing India's first privately led helicopter final assembly line (FAL) in Karnataka, with the Airbus H125 set to be assembled at a newly developed site in Kolar district. Government sources told TOI that TASL has acquired 740,000 square feet of industrial land in the Vemagal Industrial Area near Bengaluru, where the company is building a fully integrated facility covering manufacturing, final assembly, and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) operations. 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo 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. State officials added 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 at the time of publishing. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
China, Pakistan, Turkiye... everyone kept watching and THIS big European company made a special deal with Ratan Tata's Tata Group
China, Pakistan, Turkiye... everyone kept watching and THIS big European company made a special deal with Ratan Tata's Tata Group Following the success of Made in India weapons during the recent Operation Sindoor, many foreign companies are now showing interest in India's defence sector. Recently, after Russia and Israel, now a European company is also going to work in India in collaboration with Tata Group. Actually, European aviation company Airbus and Tata Group's aerospace branch Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) are going to do a big work together. They will set up a final assembly line (FAL) for H125 helicopters in Kolar, Karnataka. This will be India's first private helicopter assembly facility. This is a big success for the government's 'Make in India' campaign. Under this campaign, the government is trying to become self-reliant in aerospace manufacturing. Not even the name of China-Pakistan This factory will make Airbus's best-selling H125 helicopters which will be for India and neighboring countries. This will be the fourth such facility in the world after France, America and Brazil by completing isolating China, Pakistan and Turkey. Initially, there will be a capacity to make 10 helicopters every year here. But Airbus hopes that in the next 20 years there will be a demand for 500 light helicopters of the H125 class in India and South Asia, so it will be expanded. According to sources, the plant will be set up in the Vemgal Industrial Area, which is about two hours away from Bengaluru. TASL already has other facilities here, including a satellite manufacturing plant. Sources said Karnataka was chosen among several locations like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat because the state already has a good system of aerospace manufacturing. Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh was also a strong contender. It had gained international recognition after Kia Motors' manufacturing unit there. But Karnataka was chosen because TASL has a strong support system here. TASL will build this plant. Big work of Tata's company Tata's company recently bought a 7.4 lakh sq ft plot in Karnataka's Vemgal Industrial Area. An aircraft manufacturing and final assembly line, including maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, will be set up here. A person associated with the project said that the locations were chosen based on their logistics facilities, expansion potential, availability of skilled workforce and promises from the state government such as fast track approval of permissions.
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Karnataka Secures Landmark Helicopter Assembly Deal with Airbus and Tata
Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have confirmed plans to establish a Final Assembly Line for the Airbus H125 helicopter in Kolar, Karnataka, marking the first privately-led helicopter manufacturing facility in India. This facility will become the fourth global production site for the H125, joining existing operations in France, the United States, and Brazil. The H125, renowned for its versatility and performance, is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing India's civil aviation capabilities. With applications ranging from emergency medical services and disaster management to law enforcement and tourism, the helicopter is poised to address diverse operational needs. Its ability to operate in high-altitude and extreme environments, including a notable landing on Mount Everest, underscores its adaptability. The decision to locate the assembly line in Karnataka was influenced by the state's robust industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce, and supportive policies. The facility is anticipated to commence operations in 2026, with an initial production capacity of 10 helicopters annually, scalable based on demand. ADVERTISEMENT This initiative aligns with the 'Make in India' programme, aiming to bolster domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports. By producing the H125 locally, India seeks to meet its growing demand for helicopters, projected at 500 units over the next two decades, and position itself as a regional hub for aerospace manufacturing. The collaboration between Airbus and TASL extends beyond this project, building on their partnership in the C295 military transport aircraft programme in Vadodara, Gujarat. This continued cooperation reflects a strategic commitment to developing a comprehensive aerospace ecosystem in India. The H125 assembly line is expected to contribute significantly to the regional economy, creating employment opportunities and fostering technological advancements. It also represents a step forward in India's efforts to enhance its capabilities in the aerospace and defence sectors through public-private partnerships.
