President Droupadi Murmu flew in a Rafale fighter jet from the Ambala Air Force Station, marking another memorable moment in her tenure as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. Earlier, on April 8, 2023, she had also taken a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam. It is worth mentioning that the Rafale jet was among the aircraft deployed during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ showcasing its vital role in India’s defense operations.

Earlier this month, IANS reported that Dassault Aviation of France is planning a Rafale Assembly Line in India with an eye on the Indian Navy and Air Force orders.

According to sources close to the development, India can soon become the first country to produce a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft without being an Original Equipment Manufacturer or the OEM.

Dassault has a current backlog of close to 200 Rafales which includes outstanding deliveries for existing orders of 80 aircraft for UAE, 42 for Indonesia, 12 for Croatia, Egypt 54, Greece 24, Qatar 36 and potential 26 for the Indian Navy.

The sources revealed that with its current capacity limited to 24 aircraft per year, there is a strong case for Dassault to establish an additional production line at its joint venture, Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) in India