India took a major step in its Make in India program as Tata Group and European aviation giant Airbus Helicopter inaugurated a final assembly line for helicopters on Tuesday. The virtual ceremony was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, while defence ministers Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin were present in person.
The new facility is located in Vemagal, Karnataka, near Bengaluru, and is expected to become fully operational by April. Officials said the assembly line will focus on the H125, Airbus Helicopter’s best-selling single-engine model. The project strengthens Airbus Helicopter’s long-standing presence in India, which began in 1962 with a licensing agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Alouette III, locally known as the Chetak.
Jocelyn Gaudin, head of Airbus’s engineering and innovation centre in Bengaluru, described the collaboration as a “win-win situation” for both India and Airbus. He highlighted that Airbus Helicopter has contributed to India’s aviation sector for decades, including models such as the Aerospatiale Alouette II, Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil, and the high-altitude Lama.
The inauguration follows the historic EU-India trade agreement in January, which Modi called “the mother of all deals.” Under the pact, India will remove tariffs on aircraft and machinery, creating a market of over two billion people, potentially benefiting Airbus Helicopter operations in the country.
This development builds on previous joint ventures, including a military aircraft factory opened in October 2024 in Vadodara, Gujarat, by Tata and Airbus to manufacture C295 cargo and troop transport aircraft. The Vemagal facility further cements India’s role as a hub for helicopter production in Asia and boosts domestic employment and technological expertise.
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Analysts say the new Airbus Helicopter assembly line represents a milestone for India’s aviation ambitions, combining advanced European technology with local manufacturing capabilities. It also signals strong international cooperation, reinforcing India’s position as a global aviation and aerospace player.
