Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have opened a final assembly line for the H125 helicopter in Karnataka, marking India’s first privately operated helicopter production facility. The inauguration underscores New Delhi’s push to strengthen its domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
Located in Vemagal near Bengaluru, the facility will initially focus on assembling the civil H125 variant, with plans to expand into the H125M military configuration. Operations will include integration, testing, component manufacturing, and lifecycle support. The first helicopters are expected to roll out in early 2027.
The Airbus H125 is a 13-meter helicopter with an 11-meter rotor diameter, widely used for security missions, humanitarian relief, medical evacuation, and transport. Its military version, intended for Indian Armed Forces use, is optimized for high-altitude operations along the Himalayan frontier.
Powered by a 952-horsepower Safran Arriel 2D engine, the aircraft can reach a service ceiling of 7,010 meters, achieve speeds of up to 252 km/h, and cover 630 kilometers. It offers more than four hours of endurance, accommodates up to six passengers, and supports a payload of 1,075 kilograms.
