Airbus, Mahindra join hands to make helicopters in India

Tribune News Service & PTI

New Delhi, July 3 

European giant Airbus Helicopters has teamed up with diversified Mahindra Group to establish a joint venture for manufacturing helicopters in India for military requirements. 

“We have an unparalleled track record of successful industrial collaborations with local partners across the world. We are convinced that with Mahindra, we will not only have a mutually rewarding association but one which will offer immense benefits to India,” said Guillaume Faury, president and CEO, Airbus Helicopters.

Both companies will finalise the formation of the joint venture, which will act as the prime contractor for India’s military helicopter tenders, including the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter, the Naval Utility Helicopter and the Naval Multi-role Helicopter procurement programmes.

The JV between Airbus and Mahindra aims to become the “first private Indian helicopter manufacturer under the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” the companies said today.

"The strengths of both the companies will ensure a strong partnership to present the best rotorcraft solutions for India's needs and strengthen indigenous industrial capabilities," it added.

The venture would create hundreds of high-tech jobs locally and lead to a flow of cutting-edge technologies to India, should it be selected in the governmental helicopter tenders.

SP Shukla, Mahindra’s Group president (Aerospace and Defence Sector) and chairman, Mahindra Defence Systems, said the joint venture would produce “India’s next generation helicopters that will not only answer our country’s defence needs but will also have the potential for exports in the future.” 

The Airbus has around 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in 152 countries. Separately, in a major boost to the indigenisation, the government has approved several projects to be handled by the private sector. Licences have been given to projects requiring investment of Rs 613 crore by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) licensing committee at its last meeting.

The proposals which were cleared include applications from major players like Pipavav, Tatas, Samtel Thales, Solar Industries, Titagarh Wagons, Premier Explosives etc. Many of these proposals were pending for the past several years, the DIPP said today.

The approved licences are for the manufacturing of various kinds of arms and ammunition used by helicopters, aircraft, radars, bullet-proof jackets, bullet-proof helmets, missiles, grenades, electronic warfare systems, night vision devices, guns and howitzers. 

The DIPP said it has so far issued 73 industrial licences in the Defence sector in the past one year (since June 2014) against 50 licences granted from 2011 to May 2014.