Airbus strengthens its presence in India: new partnerships with Tata Advanced Systems and Air India

Our patron, Airbus, recently announced two new initiatives in India in the helicopter manufacturing and pilot training sectors.

First, Airbus and the Indian company Tata Advanced Systems announced the creation of India's first private-sector helicopter final assembly line. Located in Vegamal, Karnataka, this plant will manufacture the H125 model. Delivery of the first Indian-made helicopter of this class is planned for early 2027. From this plant, Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems plan to supply both the Indian and regional markets.

Jürgen Westermeier, President and CEO of Airbus India and South Asia, emphasized that "the 'Made in India' helicopter will help develop this market and position helicopters as an essential tool for nation-building." For his part, Sukaran Singh, CEO of Tata Advanced Systems, emphasized that his company "is proud to be the first private-sector company in India to manufacture helicopters. This will strengthen both civil and defense needs."

Meanwhile, Airbus and Air India recently opened a new advanced pilot training center in Gurugram, Haryana. This facility, a 50/50 partnership between the two companies, will feature ten state-of-the-art simulators and classrooms to train more than 5,000 pilots over the next decade. This center is part of the national "Skill India" initiative and is designed to train pilots on the A320 and A350 aircraft families.

For Jürgen Westermeier, "the opening of the training center is a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry." For his part, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, noted that "this facility is a major step forward in our transformation process and in making Air India a world-class airline."

Read the news about the new helicopter plant on the Airbus website

Read the news about the new pilot training center on the Airbus website