Thales has awarded SFO Technologies Private Limited a contract to manufacture complex wired structures for the RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar used on the Dassault Aviation Rafale aircraft. The work will be carried out in India and marks the first major order for this category of high-value, technologically advanced wired structures to be produced domestically for the Rafale programme.
The contract relates to wired structures designed to operate under harsh environmental and operational conditions and will support radar sub-systems supplied to the Indian Armed Forces. According to a press release issued by Thales, the order represents a key milestone in the company’s localisation roadmap for advanced radar systems under its Make in India strategy.
The award follows India’s order for 26 Rafale aircraft for the Indian Navy and expands the scope of work undertaken by Indian partners within the Rafale supply chain. Under the agreement, SFO Technologies will deliver complex wired structures that form part of the RBE2 AESA radar, which is developed and supplied by Thales as part of the Rafale platform.
The partnership builds on an existing relationship between Thales and SFO Technologies across multiple aerospace and defence programmes. The localisation effort associated with the contract extends beyond precision machining and basic wiring to include advanced assembly, electronics, microelectronics and complex systems integration, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities in radar and avionics sub-systems.
“This partnership with SFO Technologies reflects our commitment to the Make in India initiative and to developing local industrial capabilities for advanced defence systems,” said Philippe Knoche, Senior Executive Vice President, Operations and Performance, Thales. “Through long-term collaborations in India, we continue to expand the scope and complexity of work entrusted to the local ecosystem,” he said.
N Jehangir, Chairman and Managing Director of SFO Technologies, said the company would focus on execution standards for the Rafale programme. “We are honoured by Thales’ continued trust in SFO Technologies and are committed to meeting requirements on quality and delivery for the Rafale India programme,” he said.
The contract is expected to deepen India’s role in the global supply chain for the Rafale aircraft and supports broader localisation objectives in defence manufacturing by enabling domestic production of critical radar components that were previously sourced from outside the country.
Thales is a France-headquartered defence, aerospace and cyber and digital technologies company with operations in 68 countries. In India, Thales has been present since 1953 and operates engineering, manufacturing and maintenance facilities across multiple locations, including Noida, Bengaluru and Gurugram. SFO Technologies, part of the NeST Group, is an India-headquartered engineering and manufacturing services provider supplying mission-critical systems to the aerospace, defence and industrial sectors.
