Hical Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Safran Aerosystems to explore setting up a joint venture in India to manufacture complex systems for the Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft programme.
The proposed joint venture will focus on manufacturing equipment such as fluid and fuel systems and associated assemblies for Rafale aircraft supplied under the Make in India initiative. The partnership aims to expand the participation of Indian private-sector manufacturers in aerospace and defence supply chains.
The agreement builds on Hical’s existing involvement in the Rafale programme. The company has already been selected to work directly with Dassault Aviation on control systems for the aircraft. The proposed venture could enable Hical to expand its role into the production of more complex aerospace systems.
Joel Berkoukchi, CEO, Fluid & Fuel Systems Division, Safran Aerosystems, said the partnership would contribute to the development of India’s private-sector aerospace ecosystem. He also highlighted Hical’s growing manufacturing capacity, including its recently inaugurated facility in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru.
Hical Managing Director Yashas Jaiveer said the proposed partnership would combine Safran Aerosystems’ technological capabilities with Hical’s manufacturing presence in India. He added that the company aims to support the Make in India initiative by manufacturing critical aerospace systems in India for global customers.
The MoU follows the inauguration of Hical’s new aerospace manufacturing facility in Devanahalli, which is part of its strategy to expand production capacity and develop capabilities for more complex aerospace and defence programmes.
For Safran Aerosystems, the proposed partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen collaboration with Indian private-sector manufacturers. If established, the joint venture could broaden the range of aerospace systems manufactured in India and increase the participation of domestic suppliers in the global Rafale supply chain.