Mahindra Aerostructures bags Airbus Helicopter contract

Produce at the Mahindra facility in Bengaluru & will be shipped directly to the Airbus productions line in Marignance, France

Airbus Helicopters has awarded a contract to Mahindra Aerostructures to make airframe parts for the AS565 MBe Panther. These parts will be produced at the Mahindra facility in Bengaluru and will be shipped directly to the Airbus productions line in Marignance, France where they will be integrated with the rest of the airframe assembly.The two companies issued a joint press release in this regard on Tuesday.

The contract positions Mahindra Aerostructures as the first Indian company to receive a direct manufacturing contract from Airbus Helicopters as a tier 1 supplier.

The work package is the first amongst a series of work packages, which would embed Mahindra Group firmly in the Airbus Helicopters' global supply chain and bind the two companies in a long-term 'Make in India' partnership, according to the release.

Airbus Helicopters and Mahindra Defence are also in the process of forming a joint venture to target India's military helicopter programmes such as the Naval Utility Helicopter, the Naval Multi-Role Helicopter and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance helicopter. In case the Government of India selects the Panther, Airbus Helicopters will establish India as a global hub for Panther production in partnership with Mahindra, it said.

"We are playing an active role in the development of a helicopter-focused Indian industrial ecosystem, and are embedding Indian suppliers into our global supply chain," said Fabrice Cagnat, director, Make in India of Airbus Helicopters, on this occasion.

Arvind Mehra, executive director and chief executive of Mahindra Aerospace said: "We believe this manufacturing relationship will allow us to demonstrate the quality and competitiveness of Mahindra Aerostructures to Airbus Helicopters. We are already committed to become a trusted partners and supplier to the Airbus Group for airframe parts and assemblies."

Mahindra Aerospace and Defence led the Mahindra Group's foray into utility aircraft and aerostructure manufacturing since 2008. Its utility aircraft business, based in Australia, currently produces Airvan 8.