The India joint venture established between Tata Advanced Systems and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation today announced that its S-92® helicopter cabin production in India has become 100 percent indigenous. The India operation is not only assembling cabins but also producing all parts needed for the assembly, before shipping the cabins to the U.S. for aircraft completion and customer delivery.

The S-92 helicopter cabin and more than 5,000 associated precision components are made at Hyderabad through a strategic collaboration between Sikorsky and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL). Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

The Tata Sikorsky India JV also announced the Hyderabad facility of TASL completed another significant milestone in October by producing its 50th S-92 helicopter cabin. The TASL facility now has the capacity to produce up to four cabins a month and is responsible for future design modifications.

In June 2009, Sikorsky and TASL entered into an agreement for production of S-92 helicopter cabins in India, and in November 2009, Sikorsky and TASL entered into a joint-venture for production of more than 5,000 detailed aerospace components in India, thereby establishing two manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad. Both facilities commenced production within two years of signing the agreements and today constitute an important part of Sikorsky's global supply chain. The S-92 helicopter cabins from India are shipped to the U.S. for final assembly, and the completed helicopters are delivered to customers globally.

Shane Eddy, Senior Vice President, Operations, Sikorsky, added, “It is a tribute to the talent and dedication of the workforce in India that we have been able to create an ecosystem for aerospace manufacturing in order to achieve 100 percent indigenization of the manufactured components and materials that meet stringent specifications of Sikorsky's S-92 helicopters.”

“Sikorsky is delighted with the results of leveraging the expertise in India by introducing its pioneering, proven and most modern technology and processes. Sikorsky had laid out a roadmap in 2009 to extend collaboration in India to produce a complete helicopter here, subject to meeting stipulated objectives and goals, and indigenization of the S-92 helicopter cabins is a milestone in reaching that target,” said Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Arvind Walia, Regional Executive, India & South Asia, Sikorsky.
 
S Ramadorai, Chairman, Tata Advanced Systems Limited said, “In a short span, Tata Advanced Systems has delivered on the challenge of indigenous manufacturing and assembly of cabins for S-92 helicopters. TASL's capabilities across the aerospace value chain and its highly skilled and dedicated workforce have put India on the global map as a preferred destination for OEMs.”

Prakash M Telang, Director, Tata Advanced Systems Limited said, “TASL's world class manufacturing facility and global supply chain have helped successful delivery of the first all-Indian S-92 cabin. We believe this is an important milestone for Tata's plans for the Aerospace industry.”

Speaking on this occasion, Sukaran Singh, Director, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said. “TASL's manufacturing facility is one of the few in India which has integrated special process and sheet metal production capabilities. Strong technical capabilities, robust program management and a determined workforce have helped TASL achieve this important milestone on its journey to indigenously build aircrafts”.

The Sikorsky S-92 helicopter is among the latest and most advanced helicopters in the world, having received the 2002 Collier Trophy for the greatest achievement in aeronautics and astronautics in America. The S-92 helicopter and its variants perform multiple roles throughout the world including search and rescue, medical evacuation, and transportation missions for VIPs including Heads of State, offshore oil and gas crews, utility and airline passengers. The Sikorsky S-92 helicopter fleet has grown to 200 aircraft since entering service in 2004 and has logged more than 530,000 flight hours.

Sikorsky's stated mission in India is to collaborate locally in strengthening the country's defence and internal security while simultaneously developing aerospace manufacturing in India. Sikorsky's off-the-shelf proven helicopters are well-suited for India's climate, size, topography, developing infrastructure and diverse mission requirements.