French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation has confirmed plans to establish a standalone Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility near Jewar International Airport in Nagpur. This facility will be dedicated to servicing India's fleet of Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter jets.
The decision marks a departure from Dassault's existing partnership with Reliance Defence under the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) joint venture, which currently operates a facility in Nagpur for manufacturing parts for Falcon business jets and Rafales.
While the new MRO facility will not directly contribute to the Make-in-India initiative through collaboration with an Indian company, it is expected to significantly enhance the maintenance and overhaul capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy for their Rafale and Mirage 2000 fleets.
The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale fighters, and the Navy is in discussions to acquire 26 naval-version Rafale jets. Dassault emphasizes that these aircraft represent the most advanced fighter technology in the Indian defense forces' inventory and anticipates securing additional orders from both services.
Notably, should Dassault successfully secure the IAF's upcoming contract for multi-role fighter jets, the company envisions expanding the MRO facility into a full-fledged production unit, thereby paving the way for local manufacturing of Rafale jets in India.
In parallel, Safran, another international Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specializing in aircraft engines, is actively planning to set up an MRO facility in Hyderabad for Rafale engines.
Should Dassault win the IAF's Rafale contract, Safran may also explore establishing a manufacturing plant for the M-88 engines that power the Rafale jets. This Safran facility is projected to commence operations by 2025.
These developments coincide with recent revisions to India's defence procurement policy, mandating that vendors seeking contracts for advanced fighter jets must establish manufacturing units within India, along with technology transfer and full production in partnership with Indian companies. This strategic shift aims to foster a robust MRO ecosystem in the country and bolster India's indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities.
