India and France would have signed a collaboration agreement for the production of helicopters and planes of the European Airbus Group in the factories of the Asian country. The official announcement is expected today, January 26, coinciding with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, who is in New Delhi for the Indian Republic Day celebrations. 

The agreement would have been signed between the French company and Tata Advanced Systems (Tasl), active in aerospace production and in the military engineering and defense technology sectors, controlled by the Indian Tata Group. The agreement involves the production of the H-125 commercial helicopter and at least 40 Casa C-295 transport aircraft at the Vadodara factory, under the supervision of Tata. 

Airbus and Tasl have existing agreements for the production and supply of components for A-320 and A-350 aircraft. This new agreement marks India's entry into a group of around 12 nations that currently produce C-295 transport aircraft and allows New Delhi to satisfy the growing demand for H-125 helicopters in India, estimated at 800 rotorcraft. The initiative is in line with the "Make In India" program of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.