Nagpur to be India's First Full-Scale Rafale Production Facility
Nagpur is set to turn into a principal hub for producing Rafale fighter jets, as French aeronautical powerhouse Dassault Aviation intends to install an entire final assembly line at its Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) plant within the MIHAN Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
This project will establish Nagpur as the first city outside France to undertake the entire Rafale assembly process. The hub will assemble a maximum of two jets per month, a huge leap from its current position of manufacturing significant components such as wings and fuselages. In case of approval, full-scale production might start in three years, with all 114 jets under India's current purchase plan delivered within six years—faster than the France timelines.
The strategic value of the city for the Indian Air Force (IAF) is significant, since the IAF has 31 active fighter squadrons compared to a sanctioned strength of 42. In addition to meeting local needs, Nagpur's facility may enable exports, with nations such as Indonesia being recipients of jets produced in the hub. This makes Nagpur stand alongside Toulouse, France, as an international aerospace production and export hub.
The DRAL facility, a partnership between Dassault Aviation and Reliance ADA Group, currently manufactures key Rafale components. The new full assembly line will create thousands of jobs in engineering, aviation, electronics, and component manufacturing, further enhancing the aerospace ecosystem in the MIHAN SEZ.
Hyderabad will have a complementary role, manufacturing fuselages under Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and undertaking engine assembly and maintenance under Safran, France. TASL is expected to begin fuselage production during 2027–28, on a scale of up to two per month.
Nagpur-rolled-out Rafales will be on the cutting-edge F4 standard, with higher radar systems, electronic warfare capabilities, greater integration with unmanned platforms, and India-specific additions, such as engine upgrades jointly with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). Assuming the government achieves its goal of 60% localisation, the bill could come down by about 30%, increasing India's competitiveness in defence exports.
With Defence Procurement Board sanction, the entire Rafale manufacturing facility of Nagpur will not just accelerate fighter delivery but also revolutionise the industrial face of the city, generate valuable employment, and enhance India's aerospace indigenization and export prowess.
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