Archive · 11 Jun 2025
India to Build Fuselages for Rafale Fighter Jets
India is making a big step in building its own airplanes!
A company called TASL will start making the main bodies, or fuselages, for the Rafale fighter jets.
These jets usually come from France.
This is a big deal because it means India is getting better at making its own airplanes.
TASL is also working with other companies, like Airbus, to build other planes and helicopters in India.
This will make India a stronger player in the world of making airplanes.
The goal is to eventually build all the fighter jets in India.
The main challenge is to make important parts for the engines.
TASL will build fuselages for Rafale fighter jets under contract from Dassault Aviation.
This is the first time Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France.
Production will begin in FY28 at a Hyderabad facility, with a target of two fuselages per month.
TASL has experience building fuselages and is also involved in manufacturing other aircraft.
Success hinges on the domestic manufacture of critical components for the Rafale's engine.
- Who
- Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Dassault Aviation.
- What
- TASL will build fuselages for Rafale fighter jets.
- When
- Production is set to begin in FY28.
- Where
- A state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad.
- Why
- To establish a modern aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and potentially domestically assemble fighter aircraft.
India's Perspective
Safran's Perspective
Technology Transfer for Engine Components
India's Perspective
N/A
Safran's Perspective
Safran, which makes the M88 engines, needs to transfer technology to HAL and other Indian partners to manufacture key engine components.
- Main Deal
- TASL to build fuselages
- Aircraft
- For Rafale fighter jets
- Production Target
- Two fuselages monthly, starting FY28
- Manufacturing Location
- State-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad
- Contractor
- Contract from Dassault Aviation