Tata Group partners with Airbus from France for production of civilian helicopters

Tata Group has partnered with France’s Airbus to develop civilian helicopters, as announced by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Friday. The agreement was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India.

The collaboration between Tata and Airbus is not new, as they are already working together to produce the C-295 transport aircraft in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat.

During a media briefing on Friday, Kwatra stated, “Industrial partnership (signed) between Tata and Airbus helicopters for production of H125 helicopters with a significant indigenous and localization component.”

Airbus also confirmed the agreement in a statement, mentioning that a final assembly line (FAL) for helicopters will be established soon, with deliveries expected to commence in 2026. The location of the facility will be jointly decided by the companies, and the machines produced will be exported to some of India’s neighboring countries.

In addition to the helicopter agreement, discussions during Macron’s visit also touched on further cooperation in the defense sector, including the potential involvement of French engine maker Safran in the production of fighter jet engines in India. India’s Ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf, emphasized Safran’s willingness to engage in a 100% transfer of technology in design, development, certification, and production.

Ambassador Ashraf also shed light on the ongoing discussions between India and Safran regarding the Shakti jet engine deal, focusing on achieving specifications aligned with India’s future fighter jet requirements. The deal aims to delve into the actual design phase, metallurgical aspects, and other critical elements contributing to the development of advanced jet engines.

The article includes inputs from Reuters and ANI.