500 H125 Helicopters to roll out from Kolar unit: M B Patil

Private Helicopter Assembly Line Launched in Kolar District

Kolar

Karnataka has entered the global aerospace manufacturing map with the launch of the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly facility at Vemagal, where 500 H125 light helicopters are slated to be produced over the next two decades. The project is a joint venture between European aviation major Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).

Inaugurating the facility on Tuesday, Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil described the development as a landmark moment for the State’s industrial growth. The unit was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron from Lok Bhavan in Maharashtra.

Among those present at the Vemagal event were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ramamohan Naidu, France’s Minister for the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin, and MP Mallesh Babu.

Patil said 17 acres were allotted for the project shortly after he assumed office, and the facility was completed in a record one-and-a-half years through coordinated approvals and infrastructure support.

Following France, the United States and Brazil, Karnataka now hosts the world’s fourth H125 Final Assembly Line (FAL). Alongside production, a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) unit has also been established.

The plant will initially produce 10 helicopters annually, eventually scaling up to 500 over 20 years. Key operations include avionics integration, hydraulic systems, fuel systems and engine installation.

Airbus holds nearly 80% of the global single-engine helicopter market, with over 4,300 helicopters in service worldwide logging more than 38 million flight hours. The Minister said the project would strengthen Karnataka’s aerospace ecosystem, boost MSMEs and create skilled employment opportunities for youth.