 "Tata Advanced Systems, Dassault Aviation ink deals to make Rafale fighter jet fuselage in India")
Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) on Thursday (June 5) announced the signing of four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture Rafale fighter aircraft fuselages in India, marking the first time Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France.
The fuselage, or body of the airplane, is a long hollow tube which holds all the pieces of an airplane together. The fuselage is hollow to reduce weight and in fighter aircraft, it is normally placed below the cockpit. While the weapons are carried on the wings, the engines and fuel are placed at the rear of the fuselage.
The new production facility will be established in Hyderabad and will manufacture key structural components including lateral shells, the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section of the aircraft.
The companies expect the first fuselage sections to be completed by fiscal year 2028, with the facility ultimately aiming to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month.
TASL, Dassault hail the deal
“For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “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.”
Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems Limited, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership, saying, “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.”
Singh added that the partnership reflects India’s significant progress in building a robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting global platforms.
The agreement aligns with India’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives, aiming to strengthen India’s role in the global aerospace industry and enhance economic self-reliance.
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— Tata Advanced Systems Limited (@tataadvanced) June 5, 2025
Dassault Aviation partners with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage for India and other global markets.#TataAdvancedSystems #DassaultAviation #Rafale #MakeInIndia #Aerospace #DefenceManufacturing… pic.twitter.com/MDLIOzXwxx
India’s Rafale squadrons
As of June 2025, India operates a fleet of 36 Rafale fighter jets with the Indian Air Force (IAF). These aircraft were delivered between 2019 and 2022. However, this number could possibly be lower since India’s top military official, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan confirmed that the country has lost at least one fighter jet in tensions with Pakistan.
It is not known whether the lost fighter jet was Rafale or not.
In April 2025, India signed a deal to procure 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale-M) carrier-based fighter jets from France for approximately $7 billion. This acquisition includes 22 single-seat Rafale-M variants and four twin-seat Rafale DH variants, which are intended for shore-based training.
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