India’s first helicopter, ‘final assembly line’ in the private sector, was inaugurated at Vemagal, Karnataka, today. The joint venture between European giant Airbus and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will build the Airbus H-125 helicopters.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emanuel Macron inaugurated the plant remotely. The two were in Mumbai holding a bilateral meeting.  The ‘Made in India’ H125 helicopter is not just a civilian copter, it can also meet the Indian armed force’s requirement for a light multi-role helicopter, especially on the icy heights of the country’s Himalayan frontiers. Plans include a military version, the H125M, to be offered out of this Indian factory with high levels of indigenised components and technologies.The ‘Made in India’ H125M can decisively boost India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ ambition in the field of military helicopter manufacturing by expanding the existing ecosystem.The delivery of the first ‘Made in India’ civilian, H125, copter is expected in early 2027. The helicopter will be available for exports in the South Asian region as well.Speaking at an event at Vemagal in Bengaluru, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the helicopter assembly line saying, “Our collaboration with France is limitless.”The Airbus-Tata tie-up for helicopters is happening just two years after the two companies joined hands for making the C295 military aircraft.