Aerospace

“Dassault Aviation in Talks to Acquire Reliance’s Stake in DRAL: A Boost for Rafale Production in India”

According to reports, Dassault Aviation, the French company that makes Rafale fighter jets, is in talks to acquire Reliance’s ownership part in the joint-venture manufacturing facility Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL), which is situated in Nagpur. This action follows the recent news that the Rafale-Ms has been chosen as the carrier-borne fighter for the Indian Navy, which was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France.

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Due to budgetary restrictions, further factory growth has been put on hold, according to industry sources, although Dassault Aviation has already started talking with Reliance Defence about the acquisition. Dassault owns 49% of the joint venture, with Reliance Defence owning the remaining 51%.

The DRAL factory was first built to produce parts for Falcon aeroplanes and is located in Nagpur’s MIHAN Special Economic Zone. However, it has been said that Dassault Aviation is thinking of building Rafale fighter jet components at the plant for international clients. It is anticipated that Dassault Aviation will develop a special Rafale manufacturing plant in India if it wins the contract to build 114 aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has a sanctioned strength of 42 Squadrons, but currently only has 31, including those of the ageing MiG 21s and Jaguar in addition to the MiG 29 — all of which will be decommissioned by 2029–2030. The 36 were purchased as an emergency measure to stop the sharp decline in numbers.

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Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.