Dassault Aviation recently signed four major contracts with Tata Advanced Systems in India, planning to produce Rafale fighter jet fuselages in Hyderabad. Starting from 2028, two fuselages will roll out every month, a pace comparable to the flipping rhythm of an Indian street pancake stall! This marks the first time that the Rafale has "settled" outside France, and it also conveys the possibility that Dassault may transfer part of its supply chain to India according to the contract. This instantly set Indian netizens' enthusiasm on fire, hotter than curry, as discussions erupted across the web. Some boldly proclaimed: "Made in India, Rafale in hand, air superiority is ours!" Others joked: "If the Rafale gets shot down, no problem, we'll build one in the backyard and take to the skies in minutes!" More imaginative netizens shouted: "Rub some Indian miracle oil on the Rafale, fly faster, crash more accurately!"
However, before this high moment could even warm up, reality poured cold water on it. In the "air duel" at the India-Pakistan border, the Rafale was reportedly beaten black and blue by Pakistan's J-10CE. The J-10CE easily locked onto the Rafale with its advanced AESA radar and PL-15 missiles. There are rumors online that three or even six were shot down, and when Dassault tried to check inventory, it was politely refused by India, making it a Bollywood-level embarrassing blockbuster! What's more painful is that this 1980s veteran, with its 4.5-generation aura, seems "elderly" compared to the J-10CE's vector thrust and beyond-visual-range strikes. Its stealth performance is weak, and its electronic warfare systems are not top-tier. Trying to support India's air superiority seems like a case of having more heart than ability. Indian military fans have already started criticizing: "If the Rafale can't beat Pakistan's second-hand equipment, how can it claim air superiority? Let's focus on saving face first!"
As for the "fuselage production" and "supply chain transfer," they sound impressive but are light-years away from "having an aviation industry." Producing fuselages is merely assembly line work; core technologies such as engines, radars, and avionics are still firmly in Dassault's hands, making India just an "assembly plant," where even the screwdrivers are under French command. Supply chain transfer? In essence, it might just be low-end component processing; Dassault would never let go of the real core components. Looking back, when the French helped India with engine technology transfer, what happened? Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) struggled, but the engine remained subpar, and the project eventually failed. The French probably still remember this incident with trepidation. This time, the supply chain transfer might end up being "all talk and no action," and Indian netizens' "great dream" may once again be "gently cut" by the French. People sarcastically commented: "Fuselage? Supply chain? Isn't that just a shell and screws? The French are selling us an empty frame, and we're acting like kings?" This statement may be rough, but it holds truth.
Let’s look at China, whose path in aviation industry development has been solid and steady. Since the 1980s, China began manufacturing fuselage components for Boeing and Airbus, such as the tail section of the Boeing 737 and the wing parts of the Airbus A320, doing the same "shell work." But China didn't stop there; over decades of hard work, investing billions, it developed the C919 large passenger aircraft, mastering design, assembly, and supply chain autonomy step by step. Although the C919 still partially relies on imported engines, key systems such as avionics and flight control have achieved domestication, and it received airworthiness certification in 2022. That’s the backbone of an aviation industry! India’s fuselage assembly work is far from reaching the level of the C919, and it may need decades more to catch up.
The cooperation between Dassault and Tata gave Indian aviation industry a boost, but the "Rafale wind" blowing so loudly cannot hide its technical backwardness and hollow industrial structure. Indian netizens' "great dream" will continue to bubble online. We’ll sip our tea and watch this play unfold.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514499240576516648/
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