India’s Tata and Europe’s Airbus Sign Deal to Manufacture Helicopters

Tata Group of India and Airbus of Europe have signed an agreement to manufacture civilian helicopters together. The deal was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent state visit to India.

Bear in mind Tata and Airbus are already cooperating on making the C-295 transport aircraft in Gujrat state of India. According to Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra:

“Industrial partnership has been signed between Tata and Airbus Helicopters for production of H125 helicopters with a significant indigenous and localization component.”

Airbus, in a statement announcing the final assembly line (FAL) for helicopters, said the machines produced would also be exported to some of India’s neighboring countries. “The FAL will take 24 months to set up, and deliveries are expected to commence in 2026,” Airbus said, adding that the location of the facility will be jointly decided by the companies.

Further cooperation in the defence sector was also discussed during Macron’s visit, officials quoted by the Reuters news agency said, including the possibility of French engine maker Safran assisting in the manufacture of fighter jet engines in India. France is already India’s second largest arms supplier, and the South Asian nation has relied on its fighter jets for four decades.