Defence
8 Locations Shortlisted by Airbus for H125 Helicopter Assembly Line in India
Airbus has taken a significant step towards establishing a new final assembly line (FAL) for its H125 helicopters in India. The European aerospace giant has shortlisted eight potential sites for the facility, with a groundbreaking ceremony anticipated later this year.
The new assembly line will be Airbus’s fourth dedicated to the single-engine H125 model. Initially, the facility will have the capacity to produce up to 10 helicopters annually, with plans to increase production in response to market demand. This strategic move underscores Airbus’s confidence in the growing helicopter market in India.
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Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters, highlighted the importance of the Indian market, describing it as “the market of the future for helicopters.” Despite the current small size of the market, Michalon is optimistic about its potential, noting that the demand for helicopters is expected to grow significantly.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new assembly line is slated for October or November of this year, with the facility projected to commence operations in 2026. Deliveries are expected to begin towards the end of 2026.
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Airbus has projected a demand for approximately 500 H125 helicopters in India and neighboring regions over the next two decades. “We are targeting 10 helicopters per year initially, but as demand increases, we are prepared to scale up production to 20, 30, or even 50 helicopters per year,” said Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopters in India and South Asia.
The final selection of the site will depend on various factors, including the attractiveness of the location for industrial activities, logistics, workforce, and regulatory environment. Michalon emphasized that the goal is to find a location that offers an optimal ecosystem for these factors.
