Indian helicopter assembly line to be opened by Airbus

The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced on Friday that it will collaborate with Indian conglomerate Tata to establish a helicopter assembly line in India.

French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement during his two-day visit to India.

According to Airbus, once it is established, it will be the first of its kind in India and will be managed by a private company. The establishment process will take two years.

The primary parts of the H125 Ecureuil helicopter will be assembled, tested, and delivered to clients in India and nearby nations.

Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, stated that "unlocking the true potential of the helicopter market in the country" would result from producing the aircraft in India.

A light civilian helicopter with a maximum capacity of six passengers is the H125.

In the western Indian state of Gujurat, Airbus and Tata decided in 2021 to establish an assembly line for C295 military transport aircraft.

Amidst Washington and its Western allies courting India as a military and economic counterweight to China, Macron has pushed for increased French involvement in the Asia-Pacific region.