Airbus Helicopters strengthens Indian industry ties
Airbus Helicopters will partner with Mahindra Defence Systems to produce indigenous military helicopters for India as part of the country's 'Make in India' initiative, it announced on 3 July.
The two companies will enter discussions for finalising a joint venture to target Indian military helicopter requirements, including the naval multirole helicopter, naval utility helicopter and reconnaissance and surveillance helicopter.
The future joint venture will be the first private Indian helicopter manufacturer under the 'Make in India' initiative.
Guillaume Faury, president and CEO, Airbus Helicopters, said: '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.
'The tie-up is in line with our intent to develop an indigenous industrial ecosystem for helicopters. The joint venture will be dedicated to supplying the Indian armed forces with made-in-India, state-of-the-art helicopters of high reliability, quality and safety standard based on combat-proven platforms.'
S P Shukla, group president, aerospace and defence sector and chairman, Mahindra Defence Systems, said: 'This arrangement between two established and trusted industrial players will create a formidable partnership.
'We have extensive expertise in engineering, automotive and fixed-wing sectors and have made substantial investments in aero components manufacturing, while Airbus Helicopters offers best-in-class rotorcraft platforms. Together, we will 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.'
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