French company Dassault Aviation and Indian firm Tata Advanced Systems Limited signed four agreements to produce the fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft in India. The agreement stated that the first sections of the fuselage would roll off the assembly line in 2028.

The firms stated through a joint press statement that the facility represented a significant investment in India’s aerospace infrastructure and served as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing.

The announcement added that Tata Advanced Systems would set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad. It would manufacture key structural sections of the Rafale. These included the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section.

The agreement confirmed that the first fuselage sections would roll off the assembly line in 2028. The facility would deliver up to two complete fuselages per month.

Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said that this was the first time Rafale fuselages would be produced outside France.

Trappier said, “This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. 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 and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements.”

Sukaran Singh, managing director and CEO of Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said, “This partnership marks a significant step in India’s aerospace journey. 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.”

He added, “It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms.”

In May, India and France signed a key deal to procure 26 naval variants of Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Navy. The deal cost around ₹63,000 crore.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the government-to-government deal. It included 22 single-seat Rafale M fighters and four twin-seat trainers, as Hindustan Times had earlier reported.