French Jet Engine Maker Safran proposes to manufacture M-88 Engines in India for Rafale Fighters in MRFA Bid
Safran, a prominent aerospace and defense company, has announced its intention to manufacture M-88 engines entirely in India to bolster Dassault’s bid for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Medium Range Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender.
The M-88 engine powers the Rafale fighter jet, which Dassault is proposing to the IAF as part of a contract for 114 aircraft. Safran’s existing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Hyderabad is already equipped to produce M-88 engines and is prepared to significantly scale up production if awarded a substantial contract.
For its 114 MRFA jets, the IAF will require a total of 240 engines, in addition to the 186 engines needed for its current fleet of 36 Rafale and 26 Rafale M aircraft. Should Dassault secure the MRFA tender, the IAF will need approximately 350 M-88 engines over the next 40 years to support its fleet.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the Rafale fleet, Safran is also proposing a technology transfer (ToT) for M-88 engine production to its subsidiary in India. This strategy will enable the outsourcing of parts of the manufacturing process to Indian private sector companies, aiming to raise the indigenous content to at least 60%. This increase is vital for achieving a maintainability rate of around 75%, which is essential for the fleet's operational readiness.
By establishing M-88 engine production in India, Safran seeks to strengthen Dassault’s MRFA bid and contribute to India’s self-reliance in the aerospace and defense sector. This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, which encourages domestic manufacturing and technology advancement.
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