Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus Helicopters have announced a joint initiative to establish India’s first private-sector helicopter final assembly line (FAL) at Vemagal in Kolar district, Karnataka, to produce the single-engine H125 — a workhorse used widely for civil, parapublic and utility missions.
The move positions India as the fourth country to host an H125 assembly line and marks a notable step in deepening the domestic aerospace manufacturing base.
The Vemagal facility will perform major system integration, installations, ground and flight tests, and final delivery functions under Airbus supervision while leveraging TASL’s manufacturing footprint and access to regional supply chains.
Airbus framed the project as part of a broader “Make in India” push that complements earlier contracts awarding local suppliers roles in component manufacture — notably fuselage work given to Mahindra Aerostructures.
Officials said the plant will be located in the Vemagal industrial area, roughly two hours from Bengaluru, where TASL has secured a large parcel of industrial land to build an integrated site with production, testing and planned maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. Localizing assembly and support functions is expected to shorten lead times for Indian customers and create higher-value jobs in the regional aerospace ecosystem.
Industry observers note the H125 dominates the intermediate single-engine rotorcraft market globally and is popular for roles including aerial work, emergency medical services, law enforcement and tourism — making it an attractive candidate for in-country production.
Airbus and Tata have said the first “Made-in-India” H125 should roll out for delivery in early 2027, with production initially aimed at serving domestic needs and neighbouring South Asian markets before scaling up for export.
The collaboration follows a series of recent deals that deepen Airbus’s industrial footprint in India: beyond the H125 FAL, Airbus has been awarding local work packages to multiple Indian partners as part of a broader localization drive.
Tata’s new FAL also complements national ambitions to grow indigenous aerospace capability, reduce import dependence, and develop a full lifecycle services base — from manufacturing to MRO — for rotorcraft.
Analysts caution that ramping up a final assembly line entails certification, workforce training and supply-chain maturity, and that timelines depend on regulatory approvals and the smooth handover of components from global suppliers.
Nonetheless, the announcement is already being hailed as a strategic win for Karnataka’s aerospace cluster and for India’s aspirations to capture higher value in the aviation manufacturing chain.
As the facility develops, observers will watch for details on planned annual output, the balance between domestic sales and export commitments, and how the venture integrates with India’s civil and defence rotorcraft needs.
For Airbus and TASL, the Vemagal FAL is both a commercial initiative and a test case for broader industrial cooperation in the rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific rotorcraft market.
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