Mahindra secures contract to build Airbus H125 helicopter fuselage
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New Delhi: Airbus Helicopters has awarded Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt Ltd (MASPL) a contract to manufacture the main fuselage of its H125 helicopter, further strengthening the partnership between the two companies and advancing the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Production will begin immediately at MASPL’s facility in Bengaluru, with the first fuselage scheduled for delivery in 2027.
“This new contract with Mahindra Aerostructures is a testament to the strong capabilities of our partners in India and our shared vision for the country's aerospace sector,” said Jurgen Westermeier, President and MD of Airbus India and South Asia.
The deal follows a similar contract awarded to MASPL in April this year for the fuselage of Airbus’s H130 helicopter.
“This significant H125 work package, along with our existing H130 partnership and the under-construction H125 FAL, demonstrates our confidence in India as a critical hub for global aerospace manufacturing,” Westermeier added. “We are not just building helicopters in India; we are building an entire ecosystem that will contribute to developing and maturing the rotorcraft market in India.”
Mahindra Group CEO and MD Anish Shah said: “We are delighted to partner with Airbus on its 'Make in India' plans. This contract strengthens our long-term partnership and reflects Mahindra Group and Airbus's role in building India's aerospace ecosystem. At Mahindra, we are committed to supporting the government's 'Make in India' initiative and look forward to deepening our collaboration with Airbus.”
The H125 and H130 production contracts firmly place India within Airbus Helicopters’ global supply chain, bolstering the country’s position in advanced aerospace manufacturing. Airbus currently sources components and services worth around $1.4 billion annually from India, with increasing complexity and value addition.
According to Airbus, the contract awarded to MASPL aligns with its wider India strategy, which includes setting up two Final Assembly Lines (FALs), one for the H125 helicopter and another for the C295 military aircraft in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited. Together, these initiatives are aimed at creating a complete aerospace ecosystem in India, covering design, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance and training.