PM Modi and Macron on Tuesday virtually inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility on Tuesday. The Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters is located in Vemagal Industrial Area, Kolar, Karnataka, near Bengaluru
PM Modi and Macron on Tuesday held bilateral talks in Mumbai. File Pic/PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the India-France relationship as a “force for global stability” after meeting President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday. He said the partnership goes beyond diplomacy, calling it a “Partnership of the People,” the IANS reported.
PM Modi highlighted the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, describing it as the centrepiece of the 2026 roadmap.
He said innovation thrives on collaboration and aims to link Indian and French startups, MSMEs, and research centres to address global challenges in clean energy and digital health.
The leaders reviewed the Horizon 2047 roadmap, focusing on joint production of military equipment, including HAMMER precision-guided missiles and the 114 Rafale fighter jet project.
PM Modi cited the inauguration of the Airbus H125 helicopter assembly line in India as an example of “Make in India, Make for the World.”
Coinciding with the AI Impact Summit 2026, PM Modi emphasised a shared goal to develop sovereign AI that is safe, secure, and beneficial to the Global South. He noted that ideas discussed in Marseille are now turning into industrial projects in Mumbai, the IANS reported.
PM Modi and Macron launch India’s first private helicopter manufacturing facility
PM Modi and Macron also virtually inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility on Tuesday. The Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters is located in Vemagal Industrial Area, Kolar, Karnataka, near Bengaluru.
The plant will initially produce 10 H125 helicopters per year, serving domestic needs and neighbouring countries. Over the next 20 years, production could scale to meet a demand of 500 units.
The first “Made in India” H125 is expected to take off from the facility by early 2027, as per the IANS.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin attended the inauguration in person as part of the India-France Annual Defence Dialogue. While the focus is on helicopters, India’s C295 military transport aircraft project in Vadodara is also progressing, with the first Indian-made C295 expected by September 2026. Out of 56 aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force, 16 have been delivered from Spain, with 40 to be manufactured in India, the news agency reported.
Domestic suppliers
The H125 project has onboarded 37 Indian suppliers, with around 70 per cent of components sourced domestically. Defence experts said the dual-track partnership -- H125 in Karnataka and C295 in Gujarat—supports India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, creating a high-tech aerospace ecosystem.
The H125 is a world-renowned single-engine helicopter known for its “hot and high” performance, including a record landing on Mount Everest. It will be used for civil missions, emergency services, and tourism, with plans to produce the H125M military variant at the same facility to support the Indian Armed Forces, according to the IANS.
Global issues and diplomacy
PM Modi reaffirmed the importance of dialogue on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in Gaza, noting a “philosophical convergence” between India and France on these global issues.
(with IANS inputs)
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