Airbus assessing 8 locations in India for H125 helicopter assembly unit, decision soon: Report

According to reports, the FAL, the first in the private sector in India which is expected to be commissioned in 2026, will be set up by Airbus Helicopters in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).

“We have identified eight sites, which we are currently assessing…we are still in the final assessment stage, but stay tuned, we should be in a position to announce shortly,” Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President Global Business of Airbus Helicopters, was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

Michalon, while talking to reporters at the Airbus Helicopters headquarters in Marignane on the outskirts of the French city of Marseille, said that the final decision would be made based on a host of considerations, including attractiveness for employees, and suitability in terms of industrial activity, logistics, and regulations.

However, the official declined to name any of the eight sites under consideration for the Indian assembly unit.

Airbus expects the ground-breaking ceremony for the H125 India FAL to be held around October-November this year, the Indian Express reported, adding that the first Made-in-India H125 helicopter is expected to roll out before the end of 2026.

Earlier this year, on India's Republic Day (Jan 26), the FAL was announced in conjunction with the state visit of the French President Emmanuel Macron to India.

This is the second aircraft FAL being set up by Airbus and TASL, with the two companies already in the process of setting up the C295 military aircraft FAL in Gujarat's Vadodara, reports Indian Express.

The India FAL will be the fourth production unit for Airbus's single-engine H125 helicopter with an initial annual production capacity of 10 helicopters, according to reports.

Currently, Airbus manufactures the H125 at its helicopters headquarters in Marignane, and in the United States and Brazil.

Airbus officials, however, denied to comment on investment figures and other financial details of the project, the Indian Express reported.

Top Airbus Helicopters officials said the India FAL’s capacity could be ramped up contingent upon growth in demand in India and the broader south Asian region over the coming years, as per reports.

“I know 10 doesn’t sound like a lot, but starting from scratch, it is not negligible. It could very well be 20, 30, or 50 in some years, depending on the market demand,” Michalon was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.