Dassault and Tata sign deal to manufacture Rafale fuselages in India, marking the first-ever production of the jet’s body outside France by FY2028.
Hyderabad, June 5 — In a historic first, Rafale fighter jet fuselages will now be manufactured in India, marking a strategic leap in the country’s defence and aerospace capabilities. French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have inked four Production Transfer Agreements to begin local manufacturing of Rafale’s main airframe components.
This collaboration is not just symbolic — it positions India as a serious player in the global defence supply chain. The new facility, to be established in Hyderabad, will become a key hub for the high-precision manufacturing of crucial Rafale fuselage parts. This includes:
- The lateral shells of the rear fuselage
- The complete rear section
- The central fuselage
- And the front section
The facility is expected to begin delivering up to two complete fuselages per month by FY2028, making it the first production site for Rafale bodies outside of France.
“This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “Thanks to local partners like TASL, this facility will meet our strict quality and competitiveness standards.”
Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD of Tata Advanced Systems, echoed the sentiment, stating that the deal reflects the growing trust in Indian capabilities.
“The Rafale fuselage production in India is a milestone in our aerospace journey and a testimony to India’s maturing defence manufacturing ecosystem.”
🇮🇳 A Major Boost to ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat
This initiative directly supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) goals. By transferring advanced aerospace manufacturing to India, the partnership not only strengthens local capabilities but also paves the way for increased defence exports in the future.
The agreement also comes at a time when India is rapidly modernising its military, especially after strategic responses like Operation Sindoor. With growing threats in the region, localised production of high-end military equipment is critical to maintaining operational readiness.
📦 Rafale: A Key Asset in India’s Defence Arsenal
The Rafale is a twin-engine, multi-role fighter jet lauded for its speed, agility, and advanced combat capabilities. It has become one of the cornerstones of India’s air superiority strategy.
India initially signed a €7.87 billion deal in 2016 to procure 36 Rafale jets from Dassault. These aircraft have since been deployed along critical airbases near India’s eastern and western borders. In 2023, during PM Modi’s visit to France, India announced its intent to procure an additional 26 Rafale Marine variants — 22 single-seaters and 4 twin-seaters — for the Indian Navy. These jets are set to operate from India’s domestically-built aircraft carriers, replacing aging Russian MiG-29K jets.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the deal includes training, simulators, weapons, associated equipment, and performance-based logistics support, as well as upgrades for the existing fleet.
🌍 India’s Global Defence Footprint Expands
With this agreement, India continues to emerge as a pivotal defence hub in Asia. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India was the world’s largest arms importer between 2019–2023, accounting for nearly 10% of all global imports.
But the trend is now shifting:
- India has launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier
- Opened a major helicopter production facility
- Conducted successful tests of hypersonic missile systems
- Achieved a 30-fold rise in defence exports in the past decade, with sales touching $2.63 billion
This transformation is part of a larger vision to reduce reliance on traditional suppliers like Russia and diversify partnerships with France, the U.S., Israel, and the Quad nations — Australia, Japan, and the U.S..
Dassault, in a statement, said that the Rafale’s deployment in India gives the country “state-of-the-art capabilities” and enables it to play an “active role in guaranteeing national sovereignty” and strengthening its global influence.
