Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Airbus H125 at Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a significant milestone in India’s aerospace journey.
The H125 FAL represents a watershed moment for ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ in aerospace, as the Indian private sector will now undertake manufacturing, integration, testing, and maintenance of sophisticated rotary-wing platforms domestically. The facility will produce both the civil H125 and its military variant, the H125M, ensuring Indian operators access world-class technology with localized lifecycle support.
“This facility reflects the growing depth of India’s industrial capabilities and the strength of our long-standing partnership with Airbus,” said N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons. “Together, we are contributing to creating a globally competitive aerospace ecosystem in India.”
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, emphasized the strategic importance: “The inauguration is a defining step towards India’s civil and defence sovereignty in vertical lift capabilities. The FAL offers the Indian market a versatile platform that is ‘Made in India’ and tailored for missions across the country’s unique topography.”
The ‘Made in India’ H125 will support nation-building by developing critical civil segments including emergency medical services, disaster management, law enforcement, and regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme. The H125M variant is optimized as a high-altitude force multiplier for tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, and high-altitude logistics, leveraging its low acoustic and thermal signatures.
Notably, the H125 is the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest’s summit, offering performance exceeding existing light utility fleets—a critical advantage for Indian military operations in challenging high-altitude environments.
As the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, the H125 has accumulated over 40 million flight hours globally and remains the most popular helicopter in India and South Asia. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected for delivery in early 2027, with export potential across the South Asian region.
This collaboration marks the second major Tata-Airbus industrial partnership, following the C295 military transport FAL, together cementing a comprehensive military aerospace ecosystem in India. Airbus currently sources components worth over $1.5 billion annually from India, reinforcing the country’s growing role in its global supply chain.
