Airbus has announced plans to establish the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H-125 helicopters in collaboration with its Indian partner Tata. Airbus Executive Vice President for Global Business, Olivier Michalon, stated that work on setting up the FAL will commence before the onset of winter in India.
Michalon emphasized India’s importance as a growing market for both aircraft and commercial helicopters, highlighting Airbus’s ambition to be part of this transformation. He acknowledged that regulatory challenges in India remain an issue but expressed optimism that these restrictions might ease over time.
“We see a demand for up to 500 H-125 helicopters in India and neighboring countries, which could make the market here as significant as in the United States,” Michalon noted. The first delivery of the Made-in-India helicopters is expected in 2026, with an initial production rate of 10 helicopters per year at the Indian FAL, potentially increasing to 20, 30, or even 50 in subsequent years.
Airbus, buoyed by the success of its A-320 commercial aircraft, hopes to replicate this success with the H-125 in the commercial helicopter market. Currently, over 7,000 H-125 helicopters are operational worldwide, including in the highly competitive US market.
“We sell and support solutions, and this is what we can provide for Make in India solutions,” Michalon added. Airbus aims to tap into South Asia as the next big market for the H-125 helicopter, with significant demand from industrial players, particularly in the energy sector.
Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopter in India and South Asia, pointed out that there are currently 350 civil and para-public helicopters in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, with less than 250 in service in India. This is considered a low number given the region’s population and demographics. Airbus currently holds a 40 percent market share in the commercial helicopter market in this region.
Airbus’s collaboration with India extends beyond manufacturing to include developing a robust ecosystem for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of helicopters. In December 2023, Airbus partnered with Indamer to advance India’s helicopter MRO capabilities, providing cutting-edge aftermarket services at facilities in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Nagpur.
In the defense sector, Airbus has made significant contributions through the C295 program and continues to invest heavily in India’s digital and engineering capabilities. The Airbus India Engineering Centre and the Digital Centre in Bengaluru support Airbus’s global operations with high-tech aeronautical engineering and digital transformation projects, leveraging India’s talent pool to innovate and improve Airbus’s products and services.
