France’s Dassault To Set Up Facility Near Noida, Help IAF Service Rafale, Mirage Jets

Dassault, a French aviation company, has reportedly established a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Noida, which is located near the Indian national capital, Delhi. The Indian Air Force will benefit from the facility’s assistance in maintaining its fleet of Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter jets. The new company, Dassault Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul India (DAMROI), will commence operations in six months and subsequently expand operations, according to an official quoted by news agencies.

Posina Venkata Rao has been appointed as the leader of the new organization, as indicated by media reports. For decades, Rao has maintained a close relationship with Dassault Aviation in India and has been actively engaged in their campaigns.

“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.”

It is important to note that the Indian Air Force operates 50 Mirage-2000 aircraft that were inducted in the 1980s and 36 Rafale fighter aircraft that were inducted in the last few years.

Furthermore, it is rumored that the IAF has initiated negotiations with France to acquire 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for INS Vikrant, which is currently operating MiG-29K fighters from its deck.

The official stated that Dassault’s decision to establish the facility in Noida was consistent with India’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative.

It is anticipated that the transaction will be valued at $5.97 billion or INR 50,000 crore.

As per media reports, Dassault intends to gradually expand the MRO activities at DAMROI in collaboration with the Indian aeronautical industrial ecosystem in the years ahead.