Dassault offers Rafale manufacturing in its DRAL Plant in India if given MRFA 114 jets order

Source : IDRW

Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) facility at Mihan SEZ in Nagpur, Maharashtra

The French company Dassault will complete setting up its Rafale fighter aircraft servicing center at its upcoming facility at the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) at the Mihan SEZ in Nagpur by end of 2022 or early 2023. New Facility will cater to Indian Air Force and also to the South-Asian customers in near future but the grounds are being prepared that could lead to the assembly of Rafale jets in India to meet export demands as the backlog of orders pile up after recent orders from UAE and Indonesia.

Reliance Infrastructure is the majority shareholder in the 51:49 JV in DRAL but Dassault is planning to seek 100 percent ownership of DRAL before it can start plans to assemble Rafale jets in India. DRAL will be able to assemble two Rafale jets per month and 24 in a year that will match the present production capability in France. Most of the jets will come in the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) forms only to be assembled in India.

Dassault is already sourcing Rafale engine doors and pylons from India as part of its global supply chain for its Global Customers and more components will also be manufactured in India. Dassault already has offered to assemble the second batch of Rafale if ordered by India in the DRAL facility and also is ready to cater to MRFA Tender requirement for 114 jets which involve deeper Transfer of Technology (ToT) come into play with more sourcing being done locally.

While Assembly of Rafale in India is still at the consideration stage, French company Dassault off late has been sealing multiple deals for the supply of Rafale jets with many countries, and the DRAL facility in India will play a crucial role as part of its global supply chain and later also in the upgradation and service of these jets.

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