Tata Advanced Systems To Lead Rafale Fuselage Production In Hyderabad By 2028

In a major boost to India's defence and aerospace sector, French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) have inked a strategic partnership to manufacture fuselage assemblies for Rafale fighter jets within India. The announcement was made on Thursday, with TASL confirming plans to set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hyderabad.

First Fuselages to Roll Out in FY 2028

TASL stated that the initial fuselage sections are scheduled to be completed and roll off the production line in the financial year 2028. The new facility is expected to deliver up to two complete Rafale fuselages every month once fully operational.

The Hyderabad-based production line will manufacture key structural elements of the aircraft, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, central fuselage, and the front section - critical components of the Rafale airframe.

Four Production Transfer Agreements Signed

Tata Advanced Systems signed four separate production transfer agreements with Dassault Aviation, paving the way for localized manufacturing of the Rafale fighter aircraft's fuselage in India. The move represents a significant milestone in bolstering the nation's aerospace capabilities and enhancing the global supply chain resilience for the Rafale program.

"For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India," stated Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

Trappier also noted the growing role of Indian partners, adding, "Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL - one of India's key aerospace players - this supply chain will help us successfully scale up Rafale production and meet our quality and cost benchmarks."

India's Growing Aerospace Manufacturing Strength

Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD of Tata Advanced Systems, hailed the partnership as a major advancement for India's aerospace sector. "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," Singh said.

He further added that this development is a testament to the significant strides India has taken in building a robust, modern aerospace manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting sophisticated global defence platforms.

(With inputs from PTI)