Dassault aviation to set up independent facility without Reliance in India
- In Reports
- 07:46 PM, Jul 02, 2024
- Myind Staff
French defence major Dassault Aviation has submitted an application to the Indian government to establish a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility near the upcoming Jewar international airport in Uttar Pradesh. This facility aims to serve not only India's fleet of Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter jets but also those of Indonesia.
Government sources have indicated that the proposed MRO facility will be a standalone venture of Dassault Aviation and will be fully owned by the French aviation company. This move is expected to bolster the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force's fighter jet fleet and enhance defence cooperation between India and France.
This decision by Dassault Aviation to establish a standalone MRO facility near Jewar international airport marks a shift away from its partnership with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence for this specific project. Dassault currently has a joint venture with Reliance, known as Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL), which operates a plant in Nagpur manufacturing parts for Falcon business jets and Rafale fighter jets. The new MRO facility will be an independent venture, entirely owned by Dassault, focusing on the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of Mirage 2000 and Rafale jets, not only for India but also for Indonesia.
Sources indicate that Dassault Aviation has filed an initial application to register the proposed name for its new India venture. This facility will initially focus on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) work for the 36 Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the 26 Rafale Marine jets currently under discussion between Dassault and the Indian Navy.
Furthermore, the MRO facility is also planned to serve Indonesia, which operates 42 Rafale fighters with the potential for acquiring additional units. This development marks the first step in Dassault Aviation's larger strategic plan for expanding its operations in India.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has a long-standing requirement for new fighters under the Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, aiming to procure 114 new fighters through the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Sources noted that while the Narendra Modi government secured 36 Rafale fighters under emergency procurement, the broader need to bolster the IAF's diminishing fighter strength remains unmet.
Currently, the IAF operates about 31 fighter jet squadrons, falling short of the sanctioned strength of 42. This number includes aging aircraft such as the MiG-21s and Jaguars, alongside the MiG-29s, all of which are slated for decommissioning by 2029-30.
The majority of the IAF’s fighter jet squadrons consists of approximately 270 Su-30 MKIs, which suffer from a poor availability ratio. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has exacerbated this issue by making it difficult to procure essential spare parts.
As a temporary measure, the IAF is negotiating with Qatar to procure 12 Mirage fighter jets. However, these jets are different from the ones currently used by the IAF and are likely to be formed into a separate squadron. Sources indicate that upgrading these 12 aircraft to match the standards of those operated by the IAF would be prohibitively expensive.
In the meantime, the IAF has ordered 83 LCA MK1 A jets from the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with delivery initially slated to begin in late February. However, as per reports in March, the entire delivery schedule has been delayed by at least four months due to various issues, including the sourcing of a small but critical components.
Image Source: The Times of India
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