India to Manufacture Rafale Fuselage in Hyderabad

On 5th June 2025, India announced that it is set to become the first country outside France to manufacture the fuselage of Rafale fighter jets, marking a major milestone in domestic aerospace manufacturing.

Key Points

Historic Milestone: Under a partnership between Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a new facility will be set up in Hyderabad to manufacture key Rafale fuselage sections.
Production Timeline: The first fuselage sections are expected to be produced by FY 2027-28, with capacity to deliver up to two full fuselages per month.
Global Supply Chain: The facility will serve not just Indian defence needs but also Dassault’s global Rafale markets.
Technology Transfer: The project is part of the Rs 63,000-crore Indo-French deal for 26 Rafale Marine jets, including clauses for technology transfer and domestic manufacturing.
Strategic Boost: The move strengthens India’s aerospace ecosystem, supporting its ‘Make in India’ and AtmaNirbhar Bharat initiatives.
TASL’s Growing Role: TASL, a key defence manufacturing player, also assembles Airbus C295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force, and has strong global partnerships.