India's First Private-Sector Helicopter Assembly Line Launched in Kolar
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) inaugurated India's inaugural private-sector helicopter final assembly line (FAL) for the Airbus H125 on Tuesday at Vemagal in Kolar, Karnataka. This milestone marks a significant advancement in domestic rotary-wing manufacturing capabilities, reinforcing India's position in the global aerospace sector.
Virtual Inauguration by Global Leaders
The facility was inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, with key dignitaries including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin, and Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu present at the event. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the deepening strategic partnership between India and France, highlighting its role in global stability and progress.
"France is among India's oldest strategic partners," Modi stated. "This trust and vision have elevated our relations to a special global strategic partnership. Today, we inaugurate a helicopter assembly line that exemplifies this deep trust, with India and France collaborating to build the world's only helicopter capable of reaching the summit of Mount Everest." He added that the helicopters produced will be exported worldwide, showcasing the boundless potential of the India-France alliance.
Strategic Collaboration and Economic Impact
French Minister Catherine Vautrin noted that the idea for the facility originated during President Macron's 2024 visit to India, with the project completed within two years due to India's supportive industrial and economic policies. "This achievement demonstrates how France's technological expertise and India's industrial strength can synergize to advance the Make in India initiative," she said, describing the project as a concrete expression of shared priorities and forward-looking ambitions.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Airbus and TASL teams, revealing that the total investment for the H125 programme is expected to exceed Rs 1,000 crore, generating substantial direct and indirect employment. "The H125 is renowned for its reliability, versatility, and performance under diverse conditions, making it one of the most trusted single-engine helicopters globally," Singh remarked. He highlighted previous collaborations, such as the C295 military transport aircraft assembly, as symbols of Tata's and India's ability to partner with international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Boosting Make in India and Defence Exports
Singh elaborated on India's economic policies, anchored by "Make in India" and Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) since 2014, which aim to achieve self-sufficiency in critical technologies and high-end manufacturing through beneficial partnerships. Over the past decade, India has pursued rapid industrial growth via infrastructure development, capital infusion, and a liberalized investment regime, while supporting MSMEs and startups to meet domestic and global demand.
In the defence sector, reforms like corporatisation of ordnance factories, incentive schemes, and defence corridors have increased private sector participation, now contributing about a quarter of output. Defence exports have surged, with over 16,000 MSMEs engaged, many supplying foreign OEMs. Airbus currently sources components and services worth over $1.5 billion annually from India, including complex aerostructures and systems.
Operational Details and Future Prospects
The new FAL will handle manufacturing, integration, testing, and maintenance of the civil H125 helicopter in India, with capabilities to produce its military variant, the H125M. The first India-built H125 is slated for delivery in early 2027 and will be available for export within South Asia. TASL highlighted that the H125 is the world's best-selling single-engine helicopter, with over 40 million flight hours globally and a unique feat of landing on Mount Everest's summit.
This initiative not only enhances India's aerospace manufacturing prowess but also strengthens bilateral ties with France, paving the way for future collaborations in defence and technology sectors.
