Tata to launch India’s first privately owned helicopter manufacturing unit in collaboration with…, location is…

Airbus, the European aerospace leader, and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), the aerospace arm of the Tata Group, plan to set up a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters in Kolar, Karnataka. According to a report by The Times of India, the facility will produce Airbus’ popular H125 civil helicopter for both the Indian and regional markets, making it the fourth such assembly line worldwide, following those in France, the US, and Brazil.

The new plant will initially manufacture 10 H125 civil helicopters annually. Based on Airbus’ projection that around 500 light helicopters will be needed in this sector over the next 20 years, the facility is expected to expand in the future. Guillaume Faury is the CEO of the German aerospace corporation Airbus SE and also serves as the Chairman of its commercial aircraft division, Airbus SAS.

According to the media reports, the plant will be set up in the Vemagal Industrial Area, about two hours from Bengaluru, where Tata is already engaged in other aerospace activities, including satellite manufacturing. The facility will include capabilities for aircraft manufacturing, final assembly, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services.

The report mentioned that Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur, where Kia Motors has its factory, was also a contender for the project. However, Karnataka bagged the deal owing to its robust supply chain network, readily available skilled workforce, and the pro-investment policies of the state government.

TASL has secured 740,000 square feet of space in Karnataka’s Vemagal Industrial Area to set up facilities for aircraft manufacturing, final assembly, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations.

Under Karnataka’s Aerospace and Defence Policy, the project will receive benefits such as land subsidies, capital investment support, exemption from stamp duty, concessions on electricity bills, and production-linked incentives of up to 1% of turnover for a period of five years.

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