France’s Dassault to set up facility near Noida, help IAF service Rafale, Mirage jets
Rafale fighter jet
French aviation company Dassault has reportedly set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Noida, near the Indian national capital Delhi. The facility will help the Indian Air Force service its fleet of Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter jets. An official quoted by news agencies said that the new company, named Dassault Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul India (DAMROI) will begin operations in six months and eventually expand operations.
According to media reports, Posina Venkata Rao has been named as the head of the new entity. Rao has been linked with Dassault Aviation in India for many decades and has been closely involved in their campaigns in India.
"The French firm recently informed the Defence Ministry and the Indian Air Force about setting up a new Indian company Dassault Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul India (DAMROI) to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul support for the French-origin fighter aircraft in India," a top defence official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Notably, the Indian Air Force operates 50 Mirage-2000 aircraft inducted in the 1980s and 36 Rafale fighter aircraft inducted over the last few years.
Additionally, the IAF is believed to have opened negotiations with France for 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for INS Vikrant, which is currently operating the MiG-29K fighters from its deck.
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The official said that Dassault’s move to set up the facility in Noida was in line with India’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative.
The deal is expected to be worth $5.97 billion or INR 50,000 crore.
According to media reports, Dassault plans to progressively scale up the MRO activities at DAMROI in cooperation with the Indian aeronautical industrial ecosystem in the coming years.
(With inputs from agencies)