Dassault ties up with Tata to make Rafale fuselage in Hyderabad

French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited have signed four agreements to jointly manufacture the fuselage of Rafale fighter aircraft in India that will mark production of the critical component for the first time outside France. It is a significant step forward in strengthening the country’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains. A joint press release issued by the companies said, the facility represents a significant investment in India’s aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing. Under the partnership, Tata Advanced Systems will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale aircraft. As per the deal, the first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2028. The facility is expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month.The overall Rs 63,887 crore deal inked by India in April to acquire 26 maritime variants of the omni-role jets. The inter-governmental deal, under which the 26 Rafale-M jets will be delivered in the 2028-2030 timeframe, had included the setting up of a production facility for fuselages as well as MRO facilities for aircraft engines, sensors and weapons in India.
"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, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements," Dassault chairman Eric Trappier said. French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou welcomed the historic partnership between two companies to manufacture Rafale fuselages in India. In a social media post, Mr Mathou called it a milestone in strategic partnership, reaffirming France’s support for Make In India Initiative, Atmanirbhar Bharat and global aerospace supply chains.TASL CEO Sukaran Singh, in turn, said, "This partnership marks a significant step in India's aerospace journey. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms." A joint venture between Boeing and TASL in Hyderabad, incidentally, also manufactures the fuselage for the Apache attack helicopters ordered by India from the US.