TCI, Flying Whales partner to bring heavy-lift airships to India
The collaboration will deploy the LCA60T aeronautical program, a rigid cargo airship with a 60-ton payload capacity and the unique ability to load and deliver cargo during stationary flight.
Transport Corporation of India (TCI), a leading provider of integrated logistics and supply chain solutions in India, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the French company Flying Whales and its subsidiary, Flying Whales Services. The partnership aims to explore the utilisation of heavy-lift airships for logistics operations across India.
A core focus of this collaboration is the deployment of the LCA60T aeronautical program. The LCA60T is a rigid cargo airship with a substantial 60-ton payload capacity and the unique capability to load and deliver cargo while remaining in stationary flight.
According to a press release, this initiative will contribute to the decarbonisation of goods transportation, particularly for heavy or bulky loads. It seeks to develop new and enhance existing logistics, infrastructure, and supply chain solutions in India, with a specific emphasis on supporting high-value and mission-critical projects.
The collaboration is designed to serve industries that handle large, over-dimensional equipment, with parcels weighing up to 60 tons, and require solutions for challenging remote-location cargo delivery. The airship's diverse applications are set to benefit multiple sectors.
In infrastructure and construction, it can support projects such as power transmission (like HVDC inter-state lines in Ladakh), the green energy corridor program, and the Brahmaputra Basin Investment plan.
For defense and strategic connectivity, the airship offers improved logistics for crucial projects like the Trans-Himalayan tunnel construction, connecting remote and border areas, facilitating high-altitude developments in Tibet-facing regions, and supporting heavy-lift defense operations.
Furthermore, it serves a critical role in emergency and healthcare, providing essential transportation during disasters, including floods and bush fires, and for delivering healthcare services to isolated locations.
Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director of TCI said, "Flying Whales' innovative technology will provide low carbon, efficient solutions to remote locations, thus accelerating the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity."
Sébastien Bougon, President of Flying Whales said, "By combining our LCA60T technology, the world's only solution for heavy-lift transport without ground infrastructure with TCI’s unparalleled logistical expertise, we are providing a tangible answer to India’s connectivity and ecological transition challenges."
He added that this partnership makes it possible to deliver 60 tons of strategic equipment to the country’s most remote areas with a minimal environmental footprint.
Furthermore, Flying Whales is in advanced discussions to establish its third global hub in Tamil Nadu. This decision is part of its ‘Three Pillars’ strategy, positioning India as a central location for the LCA60T's industrial and commercial rollout, including production and operational activities for these regions.
