Tata - AgustaWestland ties for AW119 helicopter assembly in India

Tata Sons and AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Understanding for the creation of a joint venture for the AW119 helicopter final assembly in India. The agreement was signed in Bangulure, at Aero India 2009. The AW119 helicopter has a single 2.8 tonnes whose competitive advantage is ensured by the best performance among the helicopters in its class and the highest safety standards. The new joint venture will cover the final assembly, the customization and delivery of AW119 to customers worldwide. AgustaWestland will be responsible for marketing and sales of AW119 globally. The first helicopter from the new facility will be delivered in 2011 and production will rise to 30 aircraft per year to meet demand. The two companies are exploring further business opportunities in India for AgustaWestland helicopters together with relevant industrial cooperation.