TASL, Dassault Aviation ink offers to make Rafale fighter jet fuselage in India – Firstpost

Dassault Aviation and Tata Superior Techniques Restricted (TASL) on Thursday (June 5) introduced the signing of 4 Manufacturing Switch Agreements to fabricate Rafale fighter plane fuselages in India, marking the primary time Rafale fuselages might be produced exterior France.

The fuselage, or physique of the airplane, is a protracted hole tube which holds all of the items of an airplane collectively. The fuselage is hole to cut back weight and in fighter plane, it’s usually positioned beneath the cockpit. Whereas the weapons are carried on the wings, the engines and gasoline are positioned on the rear of the fuselage.

The brand new manufacturing facility might be established in Hyderabad and can manufacture key structural parts together with lateral shells, the rear fuselage, the whole rear part, the central fuselage, and the entrance part of the plane.

The businesses count on the primary fuselage sections to be accomplished by fiscal yr 2028, with the power in the end aiming to ship as much as two full fuselages per thirty days.

TASL, Dassault hail the deal

“For the primary time, Rafale fuselages might be produced exterior France. It is a decisive step in strengthening our provide chain in India,” mentioned Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “Due to the growth of our native companions, together with TASL, one of many main gamers within the Indian aerospace business, this provide chain will contribute to the profitable ramp-up of the Rafale.”

Sukaran Singh, Chief Government Officer and Managing Director of Tata Superior Techniques Restricted, highlighted the strategic significance of the partnership, saying, “The manufacturing of the whole Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening belief in Tata Superior Techniques’ capabilities and the energy of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation.”

Singh added that the partnership displays India’s important progress in constructing a sturdy aerospace manufacturing ecosystem able to supporting international platforms.

The settlement aligns with India’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives, aiming to strengthen India’s position within the international aerospace business and improve financial self-reliance.

Precision meets partnership ✈️⚙️

Dassault Aviation companions with Tata Superior Techniques to fabricate Rafale fighter plane fuselage for India and different international markets.#TataAdvancedSystems #DassaultAviation #Rafale #MakeInIndia #Aerospace #DefenceManufacturing… pic.twitter.com/MDLIOzXwxx

— Tata Superior Techniques Restricted (@tataadvanced) June 5, 2025

India’s Rafale squadrons

As of June 2025, India operates a fleet of 36 Rafale fighter jets with the Indian Air Drive (IAF). These plane have been delivered between 2019 and 2022. Nevertheless, this quantity may probably be decrease since India’s prime army official, the Chief of Defence Workers Basic Anil Chauhan confirmed that the nation has misplaced not less than one fighter jet in tensions with Pakistan.

It’s not recognized whether or not the misplaced fighter jet was Rafale or not.

In April 2025, India signed a deal to obtain 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale-M) carrier-based fighter jets from France for about $7 billion. This acquisition contains 22 single-seat Rafale-M variants and 4 twin-seat Rafale DH variants, that are supposed for shore-based coaching.