France’s Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale fighter aircraft and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, (TASL) have entered into agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India, first such endeavour outside France.
According to a joint statement, Tata Advanced Systems will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. A fuselage is the central or main body section of an aircraft.
“For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, one of the major players in the Indian aerospace industry, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale, and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements”, said Eric Trappier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation.
Indian Air Force currently operates two squadrons of Rafale fighter aircraft, which played a crucial role in recently undertaken ‘Operation Sindoor’ under which terrorist and military infrastructure sites were targeted in Pakistan.
“This partnership marks a significant step in India’s aerospace journey. The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in Tata Advanced Systems’ capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms.” said Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems.
Over the decades Tata Advanced Systems has entered into such manufacturing agreements with several major original equipment manufacturers which include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin. The Hyderabad-based company is also undertaking the structural and final assembly of Airbus’ C295 military transport aircraft.
