Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters in Vemagal Industrial Area in Kolar, Karnataka. This facility marks India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing plant, set to produce 10 H125 helicopters annually for domestic and export markets. The plant’s capacity can be expanded to meet a projected demand of 500 units over the next two decades, with the first “Made in India” H125 expected to be airborne by early 2027.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin are present at the inauguration in person as part of the India-France Annual Defence Dialogue. The collaboration between India and France extends beyond helicopters, with plans for the first “Made in India” C295 military transport aircraft to be completed in Vadodara by September 2026. Out of the 56 ordered aircraft, 16 have been delivered from Spain, while the remaining 40 are being manufactured in India, involving 37 Indian suppliers and sourcing 70% of components domestically.
The H125 helicopter, known for its exceptional “hot and high” performance, is renowned globally and will be utilized for civil missions, emergency services, and tourism. Future plans include producing the military version, H125M, at the same site to support the Indian Armed Forces. This dual-track partnership in aerospace, with C295 production in Gujarat and H125 in Karnataka, aligns with India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, aiming for self-reliance in the sector. The collaboration is anticipated to generate over 10,000 jobs and establish a comprehensive ecosystem for high-tech manufacturing, encompassing precision parts to final flight testing.
