New Delhi, August 28, 2025 — Airbus Helicopters has handed Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt. Ltd. (MASPL) a contract to build the main fuselage of its iconic H125 helicopter at MASPL’s Bengaluru facility, marking a significant milestone in India’s Make in India aerospace journey AirbusMahindraMRO Business Today.
This development follows Airbus’s move in April 2025, when MASPL was entrusted with producing fuselages for the H130 light single-engine helicopter ReutersAirbus. That earlier contract established MASPL as a trusted partner in Airbus’s global rotorcraft supply chain.
Contract at a glance
- Scope: MASPL will manufacture and assemble the main fuselage of Airbus’s best-selling H125 helicopter.
- Location: Production will take place at MASPL’s Bengaluru plant, which is currently being expanded to support the program.
- Timeline: Industrialisation begins immediately, with the first fuselages expected to be delivered by 2027 Airbusmint.
- Financials: Airbus has not disclosed monetary details of the contract.
Strategic significance
Airbus emphasizes that awarding both H125 and H130 fuselage contracts to MASPL firmly integrates India into its global value chain and reinforces the Make in India initiative.
Jürgen Westermeier, Airbus’s President and Managing Director for India & South Asia, remarked that the H125 work package, combined with the ongoing H130 involvement and a forthcoming Final Assembly Line (FAL) in India, reflects Airbus’s confidence in the country’s aerospace potential: “We are not just building helicopters in India; we are building an entire ecosystem…”.
Mahindra Group’s Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, welcomed the opportunity, saying: “We are delighted to partner with Airbus on its Make in India plans… this contract strengthens our long-term partnership and reflects our role in building India’s aerospace ecosystem” MahindraBranding in Asia.
Context within Airbus’s India strategy
The decision aligns with Airbus’s broader Indian strategy that includes the establishment of multiple FALs for rotorcraft and regional aircraft:
- Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) are jointly setting up India’s first private H125 Final Assembly Line in Kolar, Karnataka, expected to start production in 2026. This plant will initially make 10 helicopters per year with room to scale as demand grows across the Asia-Pacific region.
- There are also plans for a FAL for the C295 military transport aircraft, intended to boost India’s self-reliance in defence and parapublic aerospace sectors.
Airbus procures roughly USD 1.4 billion in components and services annually from Indian suppliers, and this latest contract strengthens India’s position in high-value aerospace manufacturing AirbusDefence News India.
About the H125 helicopter
The H125, part of Airbus’s Écureuil family, is the world’s most widely used single-engine helicopter. Its reputation rests on superior performance, versatility, reliability, and strong cost efficiency. It is used in roles such as:
- Passenger transport
- Aerial work and surveying
- Tourism
- Law enforcement and rescue
- Medical evacuation and disaster response
Its spacious cabin, advanced avionics, and adaptability make it ideal across civilian and parapublic missions—even in challenging environments AirbusBranding in Asia.
What this means for India
This contract is more than just manufacturing; it’s a recognition of India’s growing aerospace capabilities. Closing the gap from parts supplier to developer of major aerostructures, India is positioning itself as a global rotorcraft manufacturing hub. The combined ecosystems of MASPL (for fuselages) and TASL (for final assembly and MRO) promise design-to-maintenance continuity and stronger export prospects.
Additionally, as the H125 is widely used by Indian law enforcement, medical services, and tourism operators, locally produced versions can offer cost and logistics advantages while boosting self-reliance.
Looking ahead
- MASPL’s next steps include ramping up infrastructure in Bengaluru to support the industrialisation phase aimed at meeting the 2027 delivery target.
- Airbus–TASL FAL is set to start operations in 2026 with potential to ramp up production significantly over time.
- India’s aerospace ecosystem is expected to grow, with local development in design, certification, assembly, maintenance, and training projected to create jobs and build long-term industrial capacity.
In sum, Airbus’s decision to award both the H125 and H130 fuselage contracts to Mahindra Aerostructures marks a major step in embedding India in the global aerospace supply chain and advancing the Make in India vision.
