Tata, Dassault to Make Rafale Fighter Fuselages in India

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is going to start manufacturing Rafale fighter aircraft fuselages in India, which will be a notable event for the ‘Make in India’ defence program. For the first time, using four Production Transfer Agreements with Dassault Aviation, Indian companies will assemble these key components for aircraft, giving a big push to the country’s aerospace industry.

A new Tata Advanced Systems manufacturing plant in Hyderabad is being built just to produce the main structural parts of the Rafale aircraft. These are made up of the lateral shells in the back fuselage, the entire back section, the middle part and the front part. While keeping everything connected and keeping hands off any unnecessary weight, the fuselage is a light and hollow section through the center of the plane. The production process will begin in FY2028, and the plan is to construct two fuselage sections per month.

• Tata to make Rafale fuselages in India under a deal with Dassault Aviation.
• The production will start in the Hyderabad plant in FY2028 at two units per month.
• Major boost to ‘Make in India’ and India’s aerospace manufacturing role.

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said: "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."

Also Read: L&T to Scale Defence Business Amid India’s Military Modernization Push

Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems, added, "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."

This alliance allows India to take a bigger part in global aerospace production, helping it become more independent economically.