An Indian squadron of Rafale jets during a parade in New Delhi, India, on January 26, 2026. SAJJAD HUSSAIN / AFP
France and its Rafale aircraft reached another milestone on Thursday, February 12. Just days before Emmanuel Macron's official visit to India, New Delhi approved the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation for 3.25 trillion rupees (€30.2 billion). Still, the deal is not yet finalized. The French president needs to negotiate the technical and commercial "details" of this key contract for the French aerospace manufacturer.
India had already ordered 36 Rafale jets for its air force in 2015 and another 26 for its navy in 2025. The Elysée hailed a "very important milestone" toward a "historic" contract, according to an adviser to the president during a briefing about the upcoming state visit from February 17 to 19. "Now, discussions [between the manufacturer Dassault and the Indian Air Force] will continue; they are very positive, but they are still ongoing," the adviser emphasized.
The world's largest arms importer, India, announced in early February yet another increase in military spending: up 15% to a total of $85 billion (€71 billion). This represents a windfall for French defense firms, whose business model relies heavily on exports. But it also poses a challenge, as Indian officials are determined to secure more investment in the country and technology transfers as part of any deal.
