What is your assessment of the Indian market for Thales’ defence business in 2019?

With new initiatives and policy decisions on several fronts, the Indian defence sector is moving towards an era of self-reliance. The Indian defence sector has seen robust growth over the last year. As India has progressed and built capabilities in its air, naval and ground combat services, Thales has stood by with stellar support. Thales started its operations in India in 1953, and since then the company has been a long-term supplier of globally acclaimed solutions for combat aircraft, air defence systems, sensors (ground, ship-borne and airborne), tactical communication and military avionics, among others to all three branches of the Indian armed forces.

Strong economic growth coupled with the will to modernise its armed forces enables India to stand tall as a defence manufacturing hub in the region. We are ready to partner with the country as always and help build and strengthen its homegrown defence industry.

Which components from Thales will be included in the Rafales being procured by the Indian Air Force?

Today, combat aircraft need to perform multiple roles, ranging from reconnaissance to air defence and precision strikes, in the course of a single mission. The Rafale fully meets these requirements, thanks to the sophisticated electronic equipment and systems equipping the aircraft from nose to tail.

Thales technology enables the Rafale combat aircra