French engine maker Safran announced on Friday its readiness to build an engine assembly line in India to meet the country’s local production requirements, as French and Indian governments advance discussions on the purchase of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets.
Safran, which manufactures M88 engines for Dassault Aviation jets, will also procure parts from local Indian suppliers to support the country’s aerospace industry, Chief Executive Officer Olivier Andries told reporters. The announcement marks what would be Safran’s first engine manufacturing facility outside France.