Airbus Helicopters has contracted India’s Mahindra group to manufacture parts for the European company’s AS565 MBe Panther utility helicopter, it was announced on 12 July at the Farnborough International Airshow 2016.
Airbus said the arrangement will feature Mahindra’s production of airframe parts in Bangalore before they are shipped to the Airbus Helicopters production line in Marignane, France, where they will be integrated into the AS565 worldwide production programme.
Airbus said that the deal positions Mahindra Aerostructures, a unit of Mahindra’s aerospace division, as the first Indian company to receive a direct manufacturing contract from Airbus Helicopters. It added that the contract is intended to support the Indian company’s emergence as Airbus Helicopters’ sole supplier for the parts.
