Dassault setting up fighter jets maintenance facility in Noida
Dassault has informed that it plans to progressively scale up the MRO activities
The French Dassault recently set up a new Indian company Dassault Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul India (DAMROI) in NOIDA. It has informed the Defence Ministry and the Indian Air Force about the maintenance, repair and overhaul support which this new company will provide for the French-origin fighter aircrafts in India.
This is a significant development by the French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation to set up a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Noida. The Indian Air Force operates around 50 Mirage-2000 aircraft inducted in the 1980s and 36 Rafale fighter aircraft inducted in the last few years.
Even the 120 odd Jaguar deep penetration fighter jets which are on their last legs of operations can also be supported by the MRO as they also have French connection. The Indian Air Force has two bases for the Rafale fighters in Ambala and Hashimara, while Mirages are located at Gwalior. TheJaguars are located at different bases.
The India Navy is also all set to acquire 26 of Naval Rafale jet fighetrs for deployment on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Also IAF may go in for Make in India for additional 72 to 108 Rafales as part of MMRCA. Dassault is also negotiating a deal with the Indian Navy to sell its Rafale Marine jets for LCA Navy Mk2.
Dassault informed the Defence Ministry that it is setting up the new MRO company in line with India’s vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and would be opening the facility in one of the industrial sectors of NOIDA in UP.
The new Indian company would have an Indian national and old Dassault representative in India, Posina Venkata Rao as its Chief Executive Officer. Rao has been associated with Dassault Aviation in India for many decades and has been closely involved in their campaigns in India. He will have a workforce of both French and Indian nationals as part of the team.
Dassault plans to progressively scale up the MRO activities at DAMROI in cooperation with the Indian aeronautical industrial ecosystem, thereby considerably enhancing the scope of support for fighter aircraft of French origin.
