India-France Rafale deal to uplift indigenous aerospace industry: Report

Hanoi, Feb 12 Highlighting that India is negotiating a major fighter aircraft deal with France to purchase 114 Dassault Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), a report has mentioned that by also getting the French aerospace company to also license its systems for construction, India is growing its capabilities and becoming more self-reliant.

As the IAF seeks to modernise and expand its capabilities with the high-performing multirole aircraft, securing a license to manufacture its systems in India will boost the country's capabilities, a report said on Thursday.

“New Delhi is committed to greater indigenisation of their supply chain. So, Indian firms would be doing the lion’s share of creating components and assembling a majority of the jets in India. Dassault is even willing to establish a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to ensure the fleet of new planes is properly maintained in the country. In fact, this MRO could serve other operators,” a report in Vietnam Times detailed.

According to the report, local production will enhance India’s indigenous aerospace industry skills, strengthen local supply chains, and could boost export earnings over time.

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The report stated that there are substantial risks involved, such as India’s difficulty in meeting tolerances at scale. It added that while the approach is a smart move for India, there is a chance that costs could escalate.

“Ultimately, this Rafale deal is not really about France, or even about the bird itself. India is buying itself a stopgap from France. It’s a stopgap that ensures the IAF will have the requisite squadron strength and strategic breathing room — all while enhancing the country’s indigenous aerospace industry at a time it will soon be able to maintain modern fleets, meaning true strategic autonomy will have been achieved — the dream of India’s strategists since the earliest days of independence,” it noted.

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