Dassault Aviation will expand its footprint in India with a new MRO facility near the upcoming Delhi Noida International Airport/Jewar International Airport. The OEM plans to use the facility for the maintenance and overhaul of Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft.
The facility will allow India’s armed services to maintain their Rafale and Mirage 2000 fleets in-country. According to Aviation Week Network data, India’s armed services operate 36 Rafale fighter jets and 52 Mirage 2000s. India’s Navy is currently in talks with Dassault to purchase 26 Rafale Marine aircraft.
Sources say Dassault will not be partnering with Indian company Reliance Defence for the project. The two companies have a joint venture, Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited, which has a facility in Nagpur that makes parts for Rafales and Falcon business jets.
Sources also claim the facility will cater to the Indonesian market, which operates 42 Rafale fighters with the option for more.
Dassault is in the process of land acquisition near the airport.
Safran is also planning to set up an MRO facility in Hyderabad to service the Snecma M-88 engines powering Rafale jets. The OEM is also in talks with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the design, development and manufacturing of a turboshaft engine for HAL’s Multi Role Helicopter and Deck-Based Multi Role Helicopter.
