New Delhi: French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd on Thursday announced a collaboration to manufacture fuselages for Rafale fighter jets in India.

Following the deal, India will become the first nation outside France to manufacture complete fuselage assemblies for Rafale fighter jets, marking a key milestone in the India defence and aerospace ambitions.

Under the agreement, four Production Transfer Agreements have been signed between the companies.

The production facility, to be established in Hyderabad, will handle the fabrication of critical components including the rear, central, and front fuselage sections.

According to the partners, the state-of-the-art unit will begin rolling out fuselage assemblies by FY 2027–28, eventually reaching an output of up to two complete units per month.

These will serve both Indian defence needs and Dassault’s global Rafale clientele.

India already operates 36 Rafale jets, and its Navy is slated to induct 26 Rafale Marine aircraft by 2030 as part of a ₹63,000-crore agreement with France signed earlier this year.

That deal includes commitments for technology sharing and domestic manufacturing infrastructure, boosting India’s self-reliance in critical defence sectors.

The Hyderabad facility will function as a precision manufacturing hub supporting international supply chains and advancing India’s domestic aerospace ecosystem.

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, underscored that this collaboration is a “decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India,” noting that it aligns with the company's long-term strategy to partner with Indian aerospace firms like TASL.

Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of TASL, described the development as a major stride in India’s aviation 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. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms,” Singh said.

The companies emphasised that the partnership reflects their joint support for India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, while also cementing India’s growing stature in the global defence manufacturing landscape.