India becomes a key Rafale production hub with first fuselage manufacturing facility outside France
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The French company Dassault Aviation announced on June 5, 2025, the signing of four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a subsidiary of Tata Sons, for the manufacture of Rafale fighter jet fuselages in India. The agreements provide for the local production of key fuselage sections, including the front section, central fuselage, complete rear section, and lateral shells of the rear fuselage. A new production facility will be established in Hyderabad to carry out this work.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Prior to these transfer agreements, the Rafale was manufactured exclusively in France, with various components produced across the country and final assembly taking place in Mérignac near Bordeaux. (Picture source: Dassault Aviation)
According to Dassault, this is the first time Rafale fuselages will be manufactured outside of France. The facility is expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month starting from the fiscal year 2028, and will supply components for both Indian and international customers. The decision follows previous offset obligations under India’s 2016 Rafale acquisition, which required Dassault and its partners to reinvest a portion of the contract’s value in India. Dassault’s CEO, Éric Trappier, stated that this step would contribute to the expansion of Dassault’s supply chain in India, aiming to meet quality and cost requirements while supporting the production ramp-up of the Rafale program. Tata Advanced Systems’ CEO, Sukaran Singh, described the agreement as a development reflecting the ongoing cooperation between the two firms. The Hyderabad facility is expected to serve as a key site for high-precision manufacturing and integrate into Dassault’s broader production network.
TASL, which operates in multiple aerospace and defense sectors including missile systems, radars, sonar equipment, and aircraft components, will lead the industrial effort. The partnership is also linked to the broader context of India’s defense industrial policy, notably the ‘Make in India’ and ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. The agreement positions India as a contributing location for global Rafale fuselage production. Dassault is already managing an expanded production effort, with deliveries rising from 13 aircraft in 2023 to 21 in 2024 and a target of 25 aircraft in 2025. The company’s order backlog includes 230 Rafales, of which 164 are for export customers. Dassault reported €8.3 billion in military contracts in 2024, up from €6.5 billion in 2023, with a total backlog across programs reaching €43.2 billion.
The Hyderabad fuselage production agreement complements India’s April 2025 intergovernmental agreement with France for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft. The deal, valued at approximately €7 billion (₹63,000 crore), includes 22 Rafale M single-seat carrier-based fighters and 4 Rafale B twin-seat aircraft, which will be used for land-based pilot training. Deliveries are set to begin in May 2028, approximately 37 months after the signing date, and are expected to conclude between 2029 and 2031. The agreement includes training programs, maintenance packages, simulators, performance-based logistics, and weapons systems such as the Meteor air-to-air missile and Exocet AM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missile. The contract also includes the integration of Indian-developed missiles, including the Astra Mk1 and the Rudram series.
The Rafale Marine was selected in 2023 after evaluation trials against the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet at India’s Shore-Based Test Facility in Goa. It will replace the MiG-29K fleet operating from the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB aircraft, acquired from Russia between 2004 and 2010, have experienced issues related to serviceability, engine reliability, and maintenance following deck landings. These aircraft are undergoing updates that include integration of Astra Mk-II, NASM-MR, Kh-35E, Rudram-2, Rampage, and ODAB-500PMV munitions, as well as the Uttam AESA radar. However, they are expected to be gradually retired as the Rafale M is phased into service. The new aircraft will be deployed alongside French Navy Rafales used for training Indian pilots prior to delivery.
The Rafale Marine is a carrier-capable variant of the Rafale fighter, incorporating structural reinforcements, carrier landing gear, and an arrestor hook. It operates with the Thales RBE2 AESA radar and the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite developed by Thales and MBDA. The Rafale M is capable of short take-offs and arrested landings on STOBAR-configured carriers. A modification to the aircraft’s wingtips is being considered to ensure compatibility with the dimensions of INS Vikrant’s elevators. The aircraft also supports mid-air refueling using the Safran NARANG pod, which has been tested for use with slower aircraft such as the Airbus A400M, mimicking the speed profile of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
In parallel, Dassault is assessing the establishment of a full Rafale final assembly line in India to manage anticipated large-scale orders. This potential development was first mentioned in March 2025 by Dassault’s CEO, citing increased Indian demand as a factor. The company’s production growth plans include overcoming existing supply chain constraints, some of which are linked to pandemic-era disruptions. A new production site has been opened in Cergy-Pontoise to support increased output, but each step in expanding production capacity is estimated to take up to two years. In addition, Dassault is monitoring proposed U.S. tariffs on aircraft imports, which could affect the business jet segment, particularly sales of Falcon aircraft, of which one-third are delivered to U.S. customers.
The establishment of the Hyderabad fuselage production facility, combined with the 2025 Rafale Marine acquisition and possible future assembly line, aligns with India’s long-term goal of expanding domestic aerospace production capacity. India is also developing the Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), projected to enter service by 2031. Until then, the Rafale Marine will serve as a temporary solution to maintain carrier-based combat capabilities. Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for Rafale and Mirage 2000 components will be supported by a new facility in Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Navy’s aviation strategy is focused on replacing Soviet-era platforms, modernizing weapons integration, and building a diversified fighter fleet suitable for operations across the Indian Ocean.
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The French company Dassault Aviation announced on June 5, 2025, the signing of four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a subsidiary of Tata Sons, for the manufacture of Rafale fighter jet fuselages in India. The agreements provide for the local production of key fuselage sections, including the front section, central fuselage, complete rear section, and lateral shells of the rear fuselage. A new production facility will be established in Hyderabad to carry out this work.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Prior to these transfer agreements, the Rafale was manufactured exclusively in France, with various components produced across the country and final assembly taking place in Mérignac near Bordeaux. (Picture source: Dassault Aviation)
According to Dassault, this is the first time Rafale fuselages will be manufactured outside of France. The facility is expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month starting from the fiscal year 2028, and will supply components for both Indian and international customers. The decision follows previous offset obligations under India’s 2016 Rafale acquisition, which required Dassault and its partners to reinvest a portion of the contract’s value in India. Dassault’s CEO, Éric Trappier, stated that this step would contribute to the expansion of Dassault’s supply chain in India, aiming to meet quality and cost requirements while supporting the production ramp-up of the Rafale program. Tata Advanced Systems’ CEO, Sukaran Singh, described the agreement as a development reflecting the ongoing cooperation between the two firms. The Hyderabad facility is expected to serve as a key site for high-precision manufacturing and integrate into Dassault’s broader production network.
TASL, which operates in multiple aerospace and defense sectors including missile systems, radars, sonar equipment, and aircraft components, will lead the industrial effort. The partnership is also linked to the broader context of India’s defense industrial policy, notably the ‘Make in India’ and ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. The agreement positions India as a contributing location for global Rafale fuselage production. Dassault is already managing an expanded production effort, with deliveries rising from 13 aircraft in 2023 to 21 in 2024 and a target of 25 aircraft in 2025. The company’s order backlog includes 230 Rafales, of which 164 are for export customers. Dassault reported €8.3 billion in military contracts in 2024, up from €6.5 billion in 2023, with a total backlog across programs reaching €43.2 billion.
The Hyderabad fuselage production agreement complements India’s April 2025 intergovernmental agreement with France for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft. The deal, valued at approximately €7 billion (₹63,000 crore), includes 22 Rafale M single-seat carrier-based fighters and 4 Rafale B twin-seat aircraft, which will be used for land-based pilot training. Deliveries are set to begin in May 2028, approximately 37 months after the signing date, and are expected to conclude between 2029 and 2031. The agreement includes training programs, maintenance packages, simulators, performance-based logistics, and weapons systems such as the Meteor air-to-air missile and Exocet AM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missile. The contract also includes the integration of Indian-developed missiles, including the Astra Mk1 and the Rudram series.
The Rafale Marine was selected in 2023 after evaluation trials against the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet at India’s Shore-Based Test Facility in Goa. It will replace the MiG-29K fleet operating from the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB aircraft, acquired from Russia between 2004 and 2010, have experienced issues related to serviceability, engine reliability, and maintenance following deck landings. These aircraft are undergoing updates that include integration of Astra Mk-II, NASM-MR, Kh-35E, Rudram-2, Rampage, and ODAB-500PMV munitions, as well as the Uttam AESA radar. However, they are expected to be gradually retired as the Rafale M is phased into service. The new aircraft will be deployed alongside French Navy Rafales used for training Indian pilots prior to delivery.
The Rafale Marine is a carrier-capable variant of the Rafale fighter, incorporating structural reinforcements, carrier landing gear, and an arrestor hook. It operates with the Thales RBE2 AESA radar and the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite developed by Thales and MBDA. The Rafale M is capable of short take-offs and arrested landings on STOBAR-configured carriers. A modification to the aircraft’s wingtips is being considered to ensure compatibility with the dimensions of INS Vikrant’s elevators. The aircraft also supports mid-air refueling using the Safran NARANG pod, which has been tested for use with slower aircraft such as the Airbus A400M, mimicking the speed profile of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
In parallel, Dassault is assessing the establishment of a full Rafale final assembly line in India to manage anticipated large-scale orders. This potential development was first mentioned in March 2025 by Dassault’s CEO, citing increased Indian demand as a factor. The company’s production growth plans include overcoming existing supply chain constraints, some of which are linked to pandemic-era disruptions. A new production site has been opened in Cergy-Pontoise to support increased output, but each step in expanding production capacity is estimated to take up to two years. In addition, Dassault is monitoring proposed U.S. tariffs on aircraft imports, which could affect the business jet segment, particularly sales of Falcon aircraft, of which one-third are delivered to U.S. customers.
The establishment of the Hyderabad fuselage production facility, combined with the 2025 Rafale Marine acquisition and possible future assembly line, aligns with India’s long-term goal of expanding domestic aerospace production capacity. India is also developing the Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), projected to enter service by 2031. Until then, the Rafale Marine will serve as a temporary solution to maintain carrier-based combat capabilities. Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for Rafale and Mirage 2000 components will be supported by a new facility in Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Navy’s aviation strategy is focused on replacing Soviet-era platforms, modernizing weapons integration, and building a diversified fighter fleet suitable for operations across the Indian Ocean.
