Rafale’s core now ‘Made in India’

For the first time ever, Rafale fighter jet fuselages will be manufactured outside France- and that too, right here in India.

Transcript

00:00This part of the Rafale fighter jet will now be produced outside France for the first time in history in India.

00:06That's the fuselage of the aircraft, the main body section.

00:09Did India's aerospace journey just hit a historic milestone?

00:13On 5 June 2025, Dassault Aviation, the French aerospace company,

00:17officially partnered with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to manufacture the fuselage of the Rafale fighter jets

00:22right here, within India.

00:24Not just for Indian use, but for the global markets too.

00:27Of course, this is not the entire fighter aircraft, it is just the fuselage of the Rafale.

00:33But still, that's very significant because Dassault has not signed partnerships like this with any other country.

00:38Under this strategic partnership, four production transfer agreements have been signed between the companies.

00:43The first made-in-India fuselage sections are expected to roll out by financial year 2028

00:48with a production capacity of up to two complete fuselages per month.

00:52A dedicated facility will be set up in Hyderabad which will build critical structural sections of the Rafale

00:58like the central and rear fuselage, lateral rear shells and the front section.

01:02The joint press statement said the pact reflects Dassault Aviation's strong commitment to make in India

01:07and Atmanir Bhair Bharat initiatives calling it a long-term commitment to strengthen India's role in the global aerospace supply chain

01:15while supporting its goal of greater economic self-reliance.

01:18Let's not forget what happened with the Indian automobile boom in the 1980s

01:23when Suzuki came here and partnered with Maruti to set up an entire Indian automobile ecosystem.

01:31The same thing seems to be happening here with fighter jets.

01:34Dassault CEO Eric Trappier called the move a decisive step in reinforcing their supply chain in India

01:40while TASL CEO Sukharan Singh said this reflects the growing global trust in India's aerospace manufacturing progress.

01:47And this becomes the first such facility of its kind outside of France

01:51and eventually this could lead to full-fledged Rafale production within India.

01:57From importing fighter jets to manufacturing their core structures,

02:01India's defence and aerospace sector is now taking the flight on the world stage.