By A Correspondent

Bengaluru (Karnataka): In a major boost to “Make in India” and defence self-reliance push, global aerospace and defence major Thales has awarded a new contract to Indian firm SFO Technologies for the production of critical components of the RBE2 AESA radar used on India’s Rafale fighter jets.

The move significantly deepens localisation of advanced radar systems for the Indian armed forces.

Under the contract, SFO Technologies will manufacture high-value, technologically complex wired structures for the RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar of the Indian Rafale.

This first order marks an important milestone in Thales’ long-term Make in India strategy, aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities for key Rafale sub-systems, the company said in a statement on December 15, 2025.

The development comes in the backdrop of India’s recent order for 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy, further expanding the Rafale fleet across services.

As a core member of the Dassault Aviation-led Rafale industrial team, Thales continues to implement an ambitious localisation roadmap by partnering closely with Indian companies across the aeronautics and defence ecosystem.

The Thales–SFO collaboration spans a wide range of advanced competencies, including precision machining, complex wiring and assembly, electronics and microelectronics, and high-end system integration.

SFO Technologies has been a long-standing partner of Thales across multiple major programmes, building a reputation for innovation, quality, and reliability.

“Through decades of strong local collaborations, we have consistently invested in building indigenous capabilities and fostering world-class expertise within the Indian ecosystem,” said Thales’ senior executive vice president for operations and performance Philippe Knoche, reaffirming the company’s commitment to India’s self-reliance goals.

Echoing the sentiment, SFO Technologies chairman and managing director N. Jehangir said the company was honoured by Thales’ continued trust and would prioritise quality and timely delivery while contributing to the production of Rafale equipment in India.

The contract underscores India’s growing role as a manufacturing hub for sophisticated defence technologies and highlights the deepening industrial partnerships supporting the country’s strategic autonomy in aerospace and defence.

NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Arattai.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Telegram.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on WhatsApp.