Aiming to assemble Bell 407 helicopters in Nagpur, Max AeroSpace partners with Bell Textron for government programme.
Mumbai-based Max AeroSpace and Aviation has partnered with Bell Textron to bid for the Indian government’s reconnaissance and surveillance helicopter (RSH) programme. If selected, Max AeroSpace plans to assemble the Bell 407 helicopter at its Nagpur facility, Chief Executive Officer Bharat Malkani confirmed.
Last week, Malkani, along with senior Bell Textron executives including Asia Pacific Managing Director David Sale, met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss their development plans. The discussions followed a memorandum of understanding signed between Max AeroSpace and the Maharashtra government to establish a helicopter manufacturing facility in Nagpur.
Malkani said the company will respond to the Ministry of Defence’s recent Request for Information (RFI) with the Bell 407GXi, “a globally recognised platform renowned for its versatility and performance.” Bell helicopters have operated in India since 1956, serving civilian and defence needs. Currently, around 85 Bell 407 and 412 helicopters are in service, used for tourism, corporate transport, emergency response and government duties. The company has not disclosed the number of 407 helicopters in military service globally.
Industry sources indicated that the Airbus H125 is another potential contender for the RSH programme. Tata Advanced Systems Ltd is establishing a final assembly plant for H125 helicopters in Vemagal, Karnataka, aiming to expand India’s civil and defence aviation capabilities.
India plans to replace its second World War-era Chetak and Cheetah helicopters with around 200 RSHs, of which 120 are earmarked for the Army Aviation Corps and 80 for the Indian Air Force.
