Tata to build Rafale fighter jet fuselages in Hyderabad under deal with Dassault Aviation

Adding to its growing aerospace manufacturing capability, Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) has signed agreements with France’s Dassault Aviation to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India.

Tata will set up a dedicated manufacturing facility in Hyderabad to make the four main parts of the fuselage for Indian requirements as well as Dassault’s global orders.

The facility is expected to deliver the first units by FY28 and will have a capacity to produce 24 fuselages annually.


The company did not officially share the order details, but people aware of developments told ET that as per current plans, at least 100 fuselages will be manufactured in Hyderabad for global orders and the number could cross 200 if India places more orders for the Rafale fighter jet. India bought 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force.

India has placed an order for 26 Rafale Marines for the Indian Navy. The Air Force is also looking to procure 114 multi-role fighter aircraft to boost its falling squadron strength, with the Rafale considered the leading contender.

With the Tata agreement, Dassault has vastly expanded the Rafale manufacturing ecosystem in India. The people cited said current projects — including setting up of an engine production plant at Hyderabad and a maintenance, repairs and overhaul hub at Jewar —could bring 60% of Rafale manufacturing by value into India.

Several parts of the Rafale are already made in India, including the canopy, engine bay doors and radars in Nagpur, fuel tanks and pylons in Bengaluru and sub-assemblies and components across the country.

“For the first time, Rafale fuse-lages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India," said Éric Trappier, chairman and chief executive of Dassault Aviation.

France has already offered India technology transfer and full domestic production of the fighter jets if an order for around 100 aircraft is placed by the country’s forces.

Dassault has its order book full for the next several years and was looking to set up an additional production line in India to cater to global orders and domestic requirements.