Airbus H125 helicopter: For the first time a private company in India will fully build and test helicopters inside the country. This new factory has been set up by Tata Advanced Systems Limited along with Airbus. It is located at Vemagal near Kolar in Karnataka.
The factory was opened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This is India’s first private-sector final assembly line for helicopters. That means the helicopters will be fully put together and tested here on Indian soil by a private Indian company.
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The first helicopter from this plant is likely to come out by early 2027. In the beginning, the factory will build around 10 helicopters every year. Over the next 20 years, it is expected to meet a demand of nearly 500 helicopters. The factory will also repair and maintain helicopters. Because of this, thousands of skilled jobs will be created. Many small Indian companies will also supply parts and equipment.
Airbus H125 helicopter Building
This plant will make the Airbus H125 helicopter. This helicopter once landed on top of Mount Everest and made a world record for the highest-altitude landing on Everest.
Defence and space expert Girish Linganna explained “The H125 is a single-engine helicopter that carries one pilot and six passengers. It can fly at 250 km/h and cover about 662 km on a single trip, roughly the distance from Bengaluru to Hyderabad. What makes it truly special is its ability to fly well in “hot and high” conditions, meaning extreme heat and very high altitudes, like our Himalayan borders or Rajasthan deserts. Many helicopters struggle in such conditions, but the H125 thrives. It is used for search and rescue, medical emergencies, law enforcement, firefighting, and even tourism. It is extremely versatile, extremely reliable,” explained defence and space expert Girish Linganna.
This helicopter first flew in 1974 and started service in 1975. It became popular as a light and useful helicopter for many jobs.
The Military Version
Along with the civilian model, the factory at Vemagal will also produce the Airbus H125M, which is the military version. This type is stronger and built for combat and defence work. It can carry rockets, missiles, and gunpods depending on what the mission needs. It can also fly very low to the ground in a style called “nap-of-the-earth” flying, which helps it stay hidden from enemy radar.
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Girish Linganna also spoke about this version. He said, “The H125M also uses special paint and materials that reduce its visibility to enemy sensors. It has a modern digital cockpit and can carry advanced cameras for surveillance and target tracking. For our soldiers guarding India’s northern borders in freezing high-altitude terrain, this helicopter is perfectly suited,” added Linganna.
The military version was introduced in 1990. It is used for armed scouting, light attack missions, and training. Now more than 400 military H125 and H125M helicopters are serving with about 44 armed forces in more than 35 countries. Users include France, Brazil, Mexico, Qatar, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
