India and the European Union have entered into a working arrangement on industrial aerospace production that will support cooperation between the two sides and EU-compliant “Make in India” production, including assembly of Airbus H125 helicopters in Karnataka.
The working arrangements follow the India-EU summit in January, when civil aviation safety was identified as a critical focus area, the EU said. EU Ambassador Herve Delphine on Friday described the arrangement as a concrete example of bilateral industrial cooperation compatible with global safety standards and export certifications for the 27-member bloc that will help introduce aircraft products to the global market.
Airbus Helicopters and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have set up a final assembly line at Vimagal in Karnataka to manufacture the H125 single-engine helicopter, and the facility was inaugurated in February. The facility will manufacture and export helicopters, with the first delivery expected in 2027.
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The working arrangements were signed by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on March 23, ahead of a workshop under the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership project held in New Delhi from March 24 to 26. This arrangement will help enhance cooperation to ensure high standards of civil aviation safety.
The workshop, organized by the European Aviation Safety Agency in cooperation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and with the support of European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR, brought together aviation authorities, airlines and industry representatives from across the region. It focused on enhancing practical cooperation and exchanging practical experiences.
“Given the increasing challenges facing the aviation sector, the EU and its partners in South Asia reiterated the importance of cooperation to ensure safe, resilient and sustainable air transport during the meeting,” the statement said.
Discussions at the workshop addressed daily aviation operations and common regional challenges, and highlighted the value of dialogue between regulators, operators and industry in improving safety and performance.
India and the European Union also adopted a new joint strategic agenda last January, which stipulates that the two sides will work broadly and quickly to serve common interests. The workshop and working arrangements on industrial aviation production also reflect the EU’s broader commitment to working in partnership with India and other South Asian countries to promote high standards of aviation safety, support regulatory cooperation and ensure sustainable development of the sector, the statement said.
Besides sharing a commitment to a rules-based global order and effective multilateralism, India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004. Following the India-EU summit in January, bilateral cooperation has been driven by the Common Strategic Agenda, the EU Strategy for Indo-Pacific Cooperation, and the India-EU Trade and Technology Council.
