Rafale Dassault Plan in India: India’s future Made-in-India Rafale jets may turn into one of the most strongly supported fighter fleets in the Indian Air Force. The big reason is a long support plan from Dassault Aviation. The company has proposed 40 years of OEM support for every Rafale that is built in India under the proposed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, or MRFA, programme. This support is meant to cover the full life of the aircraft, not just the day it is built.
It includes maintenance, repairs, upgrades and technical help. Dassault’s official work with Tata Advanced Systems has already moved ahead in India, with a dedicated Rafale fuselage facility now being built in Hyderabad.
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The Indian Air Force should not face a shortage of parts or support many years later. That is why the long-term OEM package matters so much. In fighter aircraft, support after delivery is often just as important as the jet itself. India already operates 36 Rafale jets that were bought under the 2016 deal and the country has also signed for 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft for the Navy in 2025. So the Rafale line is already a major part of India’s defence story.
Indian parts and Jobs
Dassault wants more aircraft parts to be made inside India instead of being brought in from abroad. That fits the Government of India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” goal and also supports “Make in India”. The company and Tata Advanced Systems announced in 2025 that Rafale fuselage sections will be made in India for the first time, through four production transfer agreements. The new Hyderabad facility is meant to become the important manufacturing base for this work.
Indian companies are expected to get work on aircraft structures, mechanical parts, electrical systems, spare parts, tools and ground support equipment. This matters because it gives Indian firms real aerospace experience. It also builds a stronger supply chain inside the country.
Local maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities would help too, since aircraft can be fixed in India instead of being sent overseas. That means faster repairs, less waiting time and lower costs over the full life of the jet.
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Long support Deal
The support package is important because fighter jets stay in service for many decades. If support ends early, it becomes hard to find spares and repairs later. That problem was seen with older fleets like the Mirage 2000, where India had to look for parts in many places after global production slowed down. A long OEM promise for Rafale is meant to stop that kind of trouble from happening again. It should help the IAF keep more aircraft ready for action, lower operating costs and make upgrades easier over time.
The MRFA programme is also a very big deal in itself. India has already cleared the idea of buying 114 fighter jets under this plan, and Rafale is one of the strongest names in the race. If the plan moves forward, the Made-in-India Rafale could become a long-running program with Indian manufacturing, Indian jobs and French technical backing working together.
