Helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland will become a strategic partner on the UK India Business Council.
AgustaWestland, the helicopter division of aerospace and defence group Finmeccanica, has said it will join the business association as a strategic partner.
The UKIBC is a business-led organisation promoting bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, whose origins date back to 1993.
The helicopter company’s innovative work in rotorcraft technology is particularly relevant to India, which has plans to develop its indigenous aerospace and defence industry.
Working alongside Rolls-Royce, the company’s expertise in this area will now contribute to the UKIBC’s advanced engineering and manufacturing sector. The association also supports digital innovation, infrastructure, life sciences and healthcare and other sectors.
AgustaWestland has been present in India since the 1930s, when the Westland Wapiti was the first aircraft flown by the Indian Air Force, and 30-years ago the company began supplying and supporting the Indian Navy’s Sea King fleet.
Nearly 50 AgustaWestland commercial helicopters have been sold in India in the last six years. including almost 20 AW139 medium twins.
In recent years the UK government has been highlighting the benefits for British companies to increase trade with high growth markets like India, with 7% annual growth, and China.
UKIBC says that India offers both production and export opportunities to British manufacturers.
AgustaWestland, with a factory in Yeovil, says it offers the advantage of manufacturing a family of helicopters that share a common design approach, common parts, common training and the same maintenance philosophy.
