Rafale Jet in Hyderabad: For ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbharta’ efforts in defence and aerospace, a big change is coming the full body of the Rafale fighter jet, called the fuselage, which will now be made right here in India. This is a big first because, until now, all Rafale fuselages were only made in France. But now, for the first time, they’ll be built outside France, in Hyderabad.
French company Dassault Aviation, which makes the Rafale jets, has signed four new agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL). These agreements are about building important parts of the Rafale’s body in India. These parts include the back shell on both sides, the entire rear part of the plane, the middle section, and the front section too. Basically they’re going to build the whole fuselage right from the front to the back in India.
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TASL is planning to set up a brand-new factory just for this. That factory will be in Hyderabad and it will have the ability to build up to two full fuselages every month. The first fuselage made in India is expected to come out of the factory in the financial year 2028, reports TOI. This new step is not just about building plane parts it’s about showing that India is ready to be a key player in the aerospace world.
TASL said the new factory would be a major investment in India’s aerospace industry. They said it would help grow a strong, high-quality manufacturing setup in the country.
Dassault Aviation’s chairman and CEO Eric Trappier said, “For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. 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.”
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So, with TASL now joining hands wth Dassault to make the fuselage, India becomes an important part of the Rafale production line. This is not just good for India but also for Dassault, because it helps them build more planes faster while also cutting down on costs.
TASL’s CEO and managing director Sukaran Singh also shared his thoughts. He said, “The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in TASL’s capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation.” He added, “It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms.”
