Rafale fighter jets to get Made-in-India AESA radar parts in major defence push

SFO Technologies said the project underlines India’s growing role in the global defence supply chain.

French aerospace and defence major Thales has awarded SFO Technologies a contract to manufacture complex wired structures for the RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar used on Rafale fighter jets, marking a key step in the localisation of advanced defence technologies under the Make in India initiative.

The contract is part of Thales’ broader Make in India strategy to localise the production of high-value radar sub-systems for the Indian Armed Forces. It follows India’s recent order of 26 Rafale aircraft for the Indian Navy and further strengthens Thales’ long-standing collaboration with Indian defence manufacturing partners, the company said in a statement.

Under the agreement, SFO Technologies will produce technically advanced wired structures for the RBE2 AESA radar, a critical component of the Rafale platform. The partnership is expected to enhance indigenous capabilities across precision machining, assembly and wiring, electronics, microelectronics, and complex system integration.

“This partnership with SFO Technologies reflects our steadfast commitment to the Make in India initiative. Through decades of strong local collaborations, we have consistently invested in building indigenous capabilities and fostering world-class expertise within the Indian ecosystem. SFO Technologies has demonstrated exceptional innovation and reliability in every project we undertake together. We are delighted to continue reinforcing our partnership, setting new benchmarks for quality and operational excellence in support of India’s self-reliance ambitions,” said Philippe Knoche, SEVP Operations and Performance, Thales.

SFO Technologies said the project underlines India’s growing role in the global defence supply chain.

“We are honoured of Thales’ continued trust in SFO Technologies, and proud to contribute towards deploying new expertise in the Indian ecosystem, while actively taking part in the equipment production for the Rafale India. Quality and punctuality will be our priorities to satisfy our customers, as usual,” said N. Jehangir, Chairman & Managing Director, SFO Technologies.

The contract marks the first order under this specific localisation effort and is expected to play a significant role in building advanced radar manufacturing capabilities in India, in line with the government’s push for defence self-reliance.

According to a report by news agency ANI, India is planning to further strengthen its air combat capabilities by acquiring a fresh batch of long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles for the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets. Defence sources cited by ANI said the proposal is aimed at enhancing the beyond-visual-range strike capability of the IAF’s frontline Rafale fleet.

According to the report, a proposal worth around Rs 1,500 crore for the procurement of the beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles is at an advanced stage of consideration within the Defence Ministry and is expected to be cleared at a high-level meeting soon. The Meteor missiles are manufactured by European defence major MBDA.

The Rafale fleet remains the only platform in the Indian Air Force capable of deploying the Meteor missile, which has a strike range of up to 200 km, giving it a decisive edge in aerial combat. Defence sources told ANI that the planned acquisition will significantly enhance the IAF’s long-range air-to-air engagement capability.

The IAF had earlier inducted Meteor missiles as part of the 36 Rafale jets procured from France under the 2016 deal. These advanced missiles are also included in the weapons package for the 26 Rafale aircraft ordered for the Indian Navy, which are scheduled for delivery over the coming years, ANI reported.