French aerospace major Safran Aircraft Systems has started building a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Hyderabad for the M88 turbofan engines that power Rafale fighter jets.
This will be the first MRO site for M88 modules outside France, Safran confirmed in an official statement on Wednesday.
MRO facility to boost capacity and employment
The upcoming MRO shop will have a capacity to handle over 600 engine modules annually and aims to create up to 150 jobs by 2040.
Safran said the facility will meet rising M88 engine demand and expand its global presence.
Dassault and Tata partner for Rafale fuselage production
This comes soon after Dassault and Tata partnered to build Rafale fuselages in Hyderabad.
India signed a Rs 63,887 crore (approx. €7 billion) deal in April to acquire 26 Rafale-M (naval variant) omni-role fighter jets, which includes a fuselage production unit.
Deal includes full local support infrastructure
As per the inter-governmental agreement, India will receive these 26 Rafale-M jets between 2028 and 2030.
The deal includes local production units and MRO facilities, strengthening India’s defence industry.
With 36 Rafales in IAF service and 26 Rafale-Ms for the Navy, Rafale is a key contender for India’s 114 MRFA project.
This program, initially estimated at Rs 1.25 lakh crore, is being fast-tracked and seeks foreign collaboration for local production.
Also Read: Markets Open Higher As Metals, Auto & Financials Lead; Global Sentiment Mixed
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
