New Delhi, June 5 -- French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd on Thursday announced a collaboration to manufacture fuselages for Rafale fighter jets in India.

Following the deal, India will become the first nation outside France to manufacture complete fuselage assemblies for Rafale fighter jets, marking a key milestone in the India defence and aerospace ambitions.

These will serve both Indian defence needs and Dassault's global Rafale clientele.

India already operates 36 Rafale jets, and its Navy is slated to induct 26 Rafale Marine aircraft by 2030 as part of a Rs.63,000-crore agreement with France signed earlier this year.

That deal includes commitments for technology sharing and domestic manufacturing...