HICAL and Safran Consider Joint Venture for Advanced Rafale System Manufacturing in India

Hical Technologies and Safran Aerosystems have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to examine the possibility of setting up a joint venture in India to manufacture advanced systems for the Dassault Rafale programme. The proposed partnership is expected to focus on the production of sophisticated equipment for Rafale aircraft being supported under India's Make in India push. Among the systems being considered are complex fuel and fluid-management systems, along with associated assemblies that play an important role in aircraft safety, performance and operational reliability.

The proposed collaboration reflects the increasing participation of Indian private-sector companies in global aerospace and defence supply chains. It also underlines Safran Aerosystems' efforts to deepen its industrial partnerships with India's growing network of aerospace manufacturers. Joel Berkoukchi, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aerosystems' Fluid & Fuel Systems Division, said the potential partnership demonstrates Safran's long-term commitment to the Indian market and to developing the country's private aerospace industry.

He highlighted the demanding requirements of programmes such as Rafale, which depend on reliable, high-quality and scalable supply chains. According to him, Hical's expanding production capabilities, including its recently established facility at Devanahalli, can help meet the manufacturing demands associated with advanced fuel, fluid and other critical aircraft systems.

The MoU further strengthens Hical's existing connection with the Rafale programme. The company has already been chosen by Dassault Aviation to contribute to control systems for the aircraft, giving it an established position within the wider Rafale industrial ecosystem. The proposed joint venture could mark another step towards moving beyond component manufacturing and into more complex aerospace systems. It would also create an opportunity for the company to expand its capabilities while contributing to India's objective of increasing domestic value addition in high-end defence manufacturing.

The announcement comes at a time when Hical is significantly expanding its aerospace production infrastructure. The company recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru, as part of a broader effort to increase production capacity and develop the engineering and industrial capabilities required for sophisticated aerospace and defence programmes.

Yashas Jaiveer, Managing Director of Hical Technologies, described the MoU as an important development in the company's move towards complex systems manufacturing for advanced aircraft such as the Rafale. He said the combination of Safran Aerosystems' technological expertise and Hical's expanding manufacturing capabilities could help advance India's Make in India objectives. The partnership could also demonstrate the ability to industrialise and manufacture sophisticated aerospace systems in India for both domestic requirements and international markets.

The proposed collaboration comes against the backdrop of India's broader push to build a stronger domestic aerospace and defence manufacturing base. The government has increasingly encouraged Indian companies to participate in high-value production, improve indigenous content and become part of international supply chains.

International aerospace companies are also expanding their partnerships with Indian manufacturers, creating opportunities for domestic firms to take on more technically demanding roles in global programmes. Based in Bengaluru, Hical Technologies specialises in high-precision electromechanical systems for the aerospace and defence sectors. The company works with major global original equipment manufacturers and has built capabilities in engineering, precision manufacturing and quality-controlled production.

Its growing involvement in programmes such as Rafale highlights the expanding role of Indian private industry in the country's aerospace ecosystem. A potential partnership with Safran could further strengthen that position and support India's longer-term ambition of developing a globally competitive and increasingly self-reliant aerospace manufacturing sector.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.