Even as Airbus Helicopters is expecting a demand of 500 H125 helicopters in India and South Asia in the next 20 years, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who is on a four-day visit to France, visited the Airbus' helicopter facility at Marignane.
The Army said at the facility, Gen Dwivedi was briefed about cutting-edge aviation technology, defence systems and aerospace engineering which Airbus pioneered.
The H125 that the company hopes to get the order for is a single-engine light utility helicopter which is capable of adopting different configurations. Known to be the world's best-selling single-engine helicopter, H125 can be equipped with various weapon systems.
The high-performing versatile helicopter is a member of Airbus' Ecureuil family which has accumulated more than 40 million flight hours worldwide.
The H125 helicopters can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments and can be easily reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport, and many others, according to Airbus.
Gen Dwivedi is on a four-day visit to Paris, aimed at boosting the military ties between India and France. He also intends to explore new avenues of cooperation and enhance strategic partnerships between the armed forces of the two countries.
General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS visited the 3rd Division of the French Army at Fort Ganteaume, wherein he was briefed on the role of the Division & future roadmap of joint training between India and France including Exercise #SHAKTI scheduled to be held in France this year.… pic.twitter.com/2d2niuKQZx
— DD India (@DDIndialive) February 26, 2025
On Monday, the Army chief held wide-ranging talks with his French counterpart Gen Pierre Schill.
During his visit, the COAS will also visit the Neuve Chapelle Indian War Memorial to lay a solemn wreath in honour of the fallen Indian soldiers who participated in World War I.
