Airbus selects Mahindra Aerostructures for manufacturing H130 helicopter fuselage- A 'Make in India' Milestone

New Delhi, April 9: Mahindra Aerostructures (MASPL), a part of the Mahindra Group, has been awarded a contract by Airbus Helicopters to manufacture and assemble the main fuselage of its H130 light single-engine helicopter with assemblies to be delivered to Airbus Helicopters' facility in Europe starting March 2027, marking a major milestone for India's 'Make in India' initiatives.

The contract was signed in the presence of Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Remi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus in India and South Asia, and Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group.

Under this agreement, Mahindra will produce the H130's main fuselage assembly, which will then be shipped to Airbus Helicopters' facilities in Europe. Industrialization will commence immediately, with the first cabin assembly scheduled for delivery by March 2027.

Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, said, "Airbus is one of the most important OEMS in the aviation industry across the world, and Mahindra, if you look at it, is the top manufacturer in the country when it comes to the manufacturing of this heavy equipment."

He added, "So, definitely, the collaboration is very important, and we see that this is going to bolster the confidence of the aviation ecosystem in the country. This is something that the government wanted to do in mission mode, especially under the leadership of PM, who is encouraging the "Make in India" programme and the Atmanirbhar programme."

Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said, "We are delighted to deepen our longstanding partnership with Airbus through this pivotal aerostructures contract. As a global leader, Airbus has played a transformative role in nurturing India's aerospace ecosystem and showcasing it on the world stage."

He added, "It is an honour for us to build on our proven track record with Airbus, harness our industrial process excellence, and embark on this new initiative. This collaboration highlights our commitment to supporting the Government of India's flagship 'Make in India' program."

Remi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus in India and South Asia said, "We have a strategic plan for India and we are implementing it to develop a holistic aerospace ecosystem across all dimensions: assembly, manufacturing, engineering, innovation, digital and training."

He said, "The H130 fuselage manufacturing contract underscores Airbus' confidence in the growing industrial excellence of the Indian supply chain, which offers the right mix of competencies and competitiveness. We are glad to extend this bond with India through our latest association with our partner Mahindra Aerostructures."

Mahindra already supplies a variety of parts and sub-assemblies for Airbus' commercial aircraft programmes. The latest contract marks a significant milestone for Mahindra as it continues to expand its portfolio of capabilities from parts and sub-assemblies to larger and more complex aerostructures.

For Airbus, India is both a major market and a strategic resource hub. Today, every Airbus commercial aircraft has components and technologies made in India. Currently, Airbus' annual procurement of components and services from India stands at USD 1.4 billion.

The H130 is an intermediate single-engine helicopter tailored for passenger transport, tourism and private and business aviation, as well as medical airlift and surveillance missions.

It has a wide, unobstructed cabin, which accommodates the pilot and up to seven passengers, providing outstanding visibility through a large wrap-around windscreen and wide windows. Its state-of-the-art technologies, materials, systems and avionics make it a quiet and powerful helicopter.

Reader Comments

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Rajesh K.

This is fantastic news for Indian manufacturing! 🇮🇳 Mahindra proving once again why they're leaders in the field. Can't wait to see more such collaborations under Make in India initiative.

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Priya M.

While this is a great achievement, I hope Mahindra maintains the same quality standards as Airbus expects. Aerospace manufacturing has zero tolerance for errors. Fingers crossed! 🤞

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Arjun S.

The H130 is an amazing helicopter - flew in one during my Swiss vacation last year. If Indian manufacturing can deliver this quality, it's truly a proud moment for our country!

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Sanjana P.

Does anyone know if this means more aerospace jobs will be created in India? Would love to see our talented engineers getting opportunities in such high-tech manufacturing.

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Vikram J.

$1.4 billion annual procurement from India is impressive! But I wonder when we'll see complete aircraft being manufactured here rather than just components. That would be the real game-changer.

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Neha R.

The H130's cabin sounds amazing with all that visibility! Hope this partnership leads to more affordable helicopter services in India for tourism and medical emergencies.

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