European manufacturer Airbus Helicopters and India's Tata have launched localized helicopter assembly at a new production line near Bengaluru. The inauguration ceremony was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in India for a multi-day visit, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India will now assemble the light H125 helicopter domestically, both in its civilian configuration and in the military H125M variant. Production of the first helicopters is scheduled to begin in 2027.
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The agreement to establish this production line was reached in early 2024. Under its terms, India secured the right not only to assemble helicopters for domestic use but also to supply markets across South Asia. The powerplant will be delivered from France, key fuselage components from Germany, and the tail boom from Spain, while final assembly of all components, including avionics and onboard systems, will take place in India.
The H125 (formerly known as the Eurocopter AS350) is a widely used and well-proven light single-engine helicopter with a payload capacity of up to 2.3 tons and a maximum range of 630 km. Since 1975, more than 7,000 units have been produced.
For India, the helicopter is particularly valuable due to its proven performance in high-altitude environments. The H125 holds several records, including a landing on the summit of Mount Everest. It is also widely used worldwide for mountain rescue operations, holding the record for a successful evacuation at an altitude of 7,800 meters on Everest.
As for the combat-capable H125M version, it is positioned as a reconnaissance and light attack platform equipped with the modular HForce weapons system, enabling the use of precision-guided munitions.
Overall, this development signals that russia is losing its long-standing position in India’s helicopter market. Although India had been a cornerstone customer for Moscow since Soviet times, the launch of localized production of European helicopters underscores Airbus' long-term strategic presence in the country.
This is not merely about russia lacking a competitive offering in the light helicopter segment. When the time comes to replace Soviet- and russian-made Mi-17 helicopters — additional purchases of which India declined back in 2022 — Airbus is likely to be a leading contender. Having already localized production, the company could eventually transition from assembling light helicopters to heavier classes.
It is also worth recalling that russia effectively lost India's attack helicopter market more than a decade ago. In 2015, New Delhi ordered 22 AH-64 Apache helicopters, with fuselages also manufactured by Tata. Meanwhile, India's indigenous Prachand attack helicopter has entered serial production, with orders already totaling $7.3 billion.
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