Hical and Safran to Jointly Produce Rafale Fuel Systems in India

Hical Technologies and Safran Aerosystems have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a joint venture that will produce advanced fuel and fluid systems for the Rafale fighter jet in India. The venture will focus on making complex fluid and fuel assemblies needed for Rafale aircraft delivered under the Make in India programme. The MoU highlights the expanding role of Indian suppliers in worldwide aerospace and defence networks and shows Safran’s intent to work closely with capable private partners in the country. Joel Berkoukchi, head of Safran’s Fluid & Fuel Systems Division, said the deal reflects Safran’s long‑term commitment to India and that Rafale projects require deep, high‑quality, large‑scale supply chains; Hical’s new plant in Devanahalli will meet those manufacturing needs. Hical already supplies Dassault Aviation with control‑system components for Rafale, and the proposed joint venture would let it move further into complex systems manufacturing, helping India climb the aerospace value chain. The announcement comes as Hical opened a new aerospace manufacturing facility near Bengaluru, part of a plan to add scale and capability for sophisticated defence programmes destined for global customers. Yashas Jaiveer, managing director of Hical, said the partnership combines Safran’s technology leadership with Hical’s growing footprint to prove that critical aerospace parts can be designed, industrialised and built competitively in India for export. Hical, based in Bengaluru, specializes in high‑precision electromechanical systems and is a key supplier to major global OEMs, supporting the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.

Context

The joint venture aims to deepen India’s indigenous production capacity for fighter‑jet components, a step that aligns with the government’s push for self‑reliance and for Indian firms to become suppliers to international aerospace programmes.