India and France have jointly advanced a major aerospace manufacturing partnership with the virtual inauguration of the Final Assembly Line for H125 helicopters in Vemagal Industrial Area, Kolar, Karnataka. The facility is India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing plant and is expected to strengthen domestic production, exports, and defence-industrial capability.
First Private Helicopter Facility
The new plant will assemble H125 helicopters in India for the first time in the private sector. It is located near Bengaluru in Karnataka. The facility is designed to support both domestic demand and export orders from neighbouring countries. The first Made in India H125 is expected to fly by early 2027.
Production Capacity and Use
The plant will initially produce 10 helicopters annually. Over the next 20 years, demand is projected at around 500 units. The H125 is a single-engine helicopter known for performance in hot and high conditions. It holds a record for landing on Mount Everest. The aircraft will be used for civil missions, emergency services and tourism.
India-France Defence Partnership
The project is part of a wider India-France defence cooperation framework. The first Made in India C295 military transport aircraft is expected to roll out from Vadodara by September 2026. Of the 56 aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force, 16 have been delivered from Spain and 40 are being built in India. The C295 project has onboarded 37 Indian suppliers, with about 70 per cent domestic sourcing.
Strategic and Industrial Significance
The H125 facility is expected to create over 10,000 jobs and build a wider aerospace ecosystem. It will support precision manufacturing, component supply and final flight testing. Plans are also in place to produce the military variant, H125M, at the same site for the Indian Armed Forces. The initiative is a key part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push in high-tech defence manufacturing.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026