&w=3840&q=100)
Dassault and Tata to locally manufacture Rafale fuselages in Hyderabad
This marks the first time that Rafale fuselages will be built outside France. The collaboration supports the Indian government's 'Make in India' initiative and aims to bolster self-reliance in the defence sector.
A dedicated facility will be established in Hyderabad to produce key structural components, including the front section, central fuselage, rear section, and lateral shells. Production is expected to commence in the financial year 2028, with a capacity to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month.
'Decisive step' in deepening Indo-French defence ties
'This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India,' said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. 'With the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, this supply chain will contribute to the ramp-up of the Rafale and meet our quality and competitiveness requirements.'
Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD of TASL, called the agreement a significant milestone in India's aerospace journey. 'The production of complete Rafale fuselages in India is a testament to the deepening trust between our companies and reflects India's progress in building a modern aerospace manufacturing ecosystem,' he said.
India's Rafale programme and future procurements
The Rafale is a twin-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft widely praised for its versatility and combat performance. It now serves as one of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) frontline assets.
In 2016, India signed an agreement with France to acquire 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation at a cost of approximately €7.87 billion. The jets have since been deployed to key airbases along India's western and eastern borders.
That contract included offset obligations, under which Dassault and its partners were required to reinvest a portion of the deal's value in India. The new Hyderabad facility represents one of the most significant outcomes of those commitments.
India has also signed a deal to procure 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) jets for the Indian Navy by mid-2028. Deliveries are expected to be completed by 2030. The deal, valued at ₹63,000 crore, includes weapons, simulators, training, and long-term logistical support.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Spice of Life: Slow simmering shift in societal seasoning
Here's food for thought: Maybe it's time brands seasoned their slogans with a pinch of purpose. Perhaps the next garlic bread wrapper could say: Sharing is caring, extra cheese for the brave. (Shutterstock) The other day, I visited a pizza chain outlet not for the pizza but for the garlic bread. A humble craving, sparked by an advertisement featuring golden loaves oozing with cheese and charm. I stood at the counter amid the buzz of pre-teen birthday parties and ketchup-smeared toddlers, waiting for my parcel. When it arrived, it wasn't the aroma that hit me first. It was the wrapper. Boldly emblazoned across the garlic bread packet were the words: Sharing is scary. I blinked. Was this some horror-themed Halloween leftover? But no, it was June. No ghouls in sight, only garlic. A slogan that might seem cheeky in the corporate boardroom, but outside, in the hands of a 10-year-old who's just elbowed his sister for the last cheese stick, it's practically gospel. Gone are the good old Amul days where butter jokes brought warmth and wit. 'Utterly butterly delicious' still stirs nostalgia, doesn't it? Wholesome humour that never undermined wholesomeness itself. Compare that to today's greasy gospel of greed, peppered with punchlines that promote possessiveness, not pizza etiquette. In a society that once served values on banana leaves and steel plates large enough for two, this new 'slice first, ask later' philosophy seems both ironic and infectious. What's next? Compassion is crunchy, crush it? Don't get me wrong, I can't help but question the thin crust of thought behind such messaging. Children today binge not just on burgers and bites, but on branding, slogans, and subconscious suggestions. When a shiny wrapper tells them sharing is scary, they swallow that too — no chewing required. It isn't just about a breadstick battle. It's a slow simmering shift in societal seasoning. I recently overheard a child at a party refusing to part with his French fries because, 'the packet says it's mine'. Forget sibling camaraderie; even friends now eye each other's food like corporate assets. In our tradition, food's not only for the belly but also for bonding. From the langars of gurdwaras to Onam sadyas, we shared before we even tasted. I remember my grandmother saying, 'Food tastes better when stolen from someone else's plate.' It was never theft, just trusted transgression. Mythology mirrors this. Sudama, who brought a handful of beaten rice to his childhood friend Krishna. In return, Krishna gifted him abundance — not because of the offering's size, but because it was shared with love. So, what happens when brands start branding selfishness as sass? Children model what they consume, not just in calories but in culture. A pizza parcel may last a meal, but its message lingers far longer. Look around, birthday parties now resemble boardroom buffets. One child hoards the cupcakes; another negotiates the return of his cola with the cunning of a stockbroker. Somewhere between fast food and faster lifestyles, we've deep-fried decency. Of course, not all hope is lost. There's still some sauce left in the sachet of sanity. A local dosa vendor I know still adds an extra dollop of chutney saying, 'Take more — goodness grows when given.' Amul, that old butter buddy, still makes me chuckle with lines like 'Breadwinner at breakfast.' One can be witty without being wicked. So, here's food for thought: Maybe it's time brands seasoned their slogans with a pinch of purpose. Perhaps the next garlic bread wrapper could say: Sharing is caring, extra cheese for the brave. Now that's a crust I'd toast to. Because in a world melting over mozzarella, let's not forget cheese can be stringy, but kindness always spreads. (The writer is a retired principal of Mukand Lal National College, Yamunanagar)
Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
India clarifies ‘no change in position' on Taiwan after Chinese readout attributes ‘part of China' remark to Jaishankar
India on Tuesday denied Beijing's claim that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had described Taiwan as 'a part of China' during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, asserting that there has been 'no change in India's position' on the matter. The clarification followed the release of the Chinese foreign ministry's readout of the Jaishankar–Wang meeting on Monday evening in New Delhi. According to the translation, Beijing attributed to Jaishankar the following remarks: 'The relationship between India and China remains stable, cooperative and forward-looking, which is in line with the interests of both countries. Taiwan is a part of China.' According to New Delhi's account, the Chinese side raised the issue of Taiwan, to which India responded that its approach remained unchanged. India underscored that, like many other nations, it engages with Taiwan in areas such as economic, technological and cultural cooperation, which will continue. 'The Chinese side raised the issue of Taiwan. The Indian side underlined that there was no change in its position on this issue. It pointed out that, like the rest of the world, India had a relationship with Taiwan that focuses on economic, technological and cultural ties and that this would continue. The Indian side noted that China also cooperates with Taiwan in these very domains.' the press release read. India endorsed the 'One-China' policy in the past, but the phrase has not appeared in any bilateral document since 2011. While New Delhi does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, both sides have steadily built connections over the past three decades. In 1995, India set up the India–Taipei Association (ITA) in Taiwan to promote trade, tourism and cultural exchanges, while Taiwan opened its Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Delhi. Last year, the two sides signed a migration and mobility agreement, paving the way for Indian workers to be employed in diverse sectors on the island. Trade cooperation has been expanding, with New Delhi particularly interested in Taiwan's expertise in semiconductors, a sector critical to global supply chains. Taiwan, a self-ruled island of more than 23 million people, produces nearly 70% of the world's semiconductors, including the most advanced chips used in smartphones, data centres, defence technology and artificial intelligence. Beijing, however, continues to pressure countries to refrain from any official recognition of Taiwan, urging India repeatedly to reaffirm its commitment to the One-China principle. In talks with Wang, Jaishankar raised India's concerns with regard to mega dam construction in lower reaches of Yarlung Tsangpo river, informed MEA. China's construction of dams in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo river, which flows into India as the Brahmaputra, has raised concerns over potential ecological disruption and transboundary water security. New Delhi has consistently sought greater transparency from Beijing on such hydropower projects, emphasising the need for prior information-sharing and cooperative management of shared river systems. India strongly underlined its concerns over the construction of a dam on Brahmaputra river and raised the issue of cross-border terrorism with China. On 8 August, in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, said the project was first made public as far back as 1986 and since then, preparations have been underway in China. The government of India has "taken note of reports about commencement of construction of mega dam project by China on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (upper reaches of the Brahmaputra) River in Tibet," he said. The government "carefully monitors" all developments relating to the Brahmaputra River, including plans by China to develop hydropower projects, and "takes necessary measures to protect our interests, including preventive and corrective measures to safeguard life and livelihood of Indian citizens residing in the downstream areas", he said.
First Post
27 minutes ago
- First Post
India Plans Biggest GST, Stock Markets Hit Record High Vantage with Palki Sharma
India Plans Biggest GST, Stock Markets Hit Record High | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G Indian stock markets soared today after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced sweeping reforms to the Goods and Services Tax. The proposal cuts four tax slabs down to just two, with everyday items and even cars likely to get cheaper. But the changes could also cost the government over ₹1.5 lakh crore in revenue. Here's what the reforms mean for you. See More
