New Delhi, April 28, 2025 — India has finalized a landmark agreement to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets from France, further cementing its strategic defense partnership with Paris and accelerating efforts to modernize the Indian Armed Forces.
The deal, announced Monday by the Indian Ministry of Defence, will include both single-seat and twin-seat configurations of the French-built aircraft, although the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We have signed the deal for 26 Rafale jets,” a defense ministry spokesperson confirmed to Agence France-Presse, signaling the culmination of months of negotiations following India’s expression of interest in July 2023 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Paris for Bastille Day celebrations.
The acquisition marks a significant addition to India’s existing fleet of 36 Rafale fighter jets, which were also procured from France under a deal signed in 2016.
Manufactured by French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation, the new aircraft will be deployed aboard India’s domestically built aircraft carriers, such as the INS Vikrant, and are intended to replace the aging fleet of Russian-made MiG-29K fighter jets currently in naval service.
The Rafale, known for its versatility and advanced technology, is capable of a range of missions including air supremacy, ground support, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence.
Its integration into India’s naval air wing is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region, a strategic theater witnessing increasing military activity and geopolitical competition.
Although the cost of the deal has not been made public, defense analysts estimate the transaction to be valued at several billion dollars, factoring in logistics, training, weapons packages, and maintenance support.
The procurement aligns with India’s long-term strategy to diversify its military hardware sources and reduce dependency on Russia, its traditional arms supplier.
Over the past decade, India has expanded defense procurement from Western allies, securing key military assets from the United States, Israel, and France.
The new Rafale acquisition also reflects India’s broader ambitions to achieve a higher degree of self-reliance in defense through partnerships that include technology transfer and domestic production components.
French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the strengthening of defense ties with India, describing the Rafale deal as a “testament to the mutual trust and shared strategic vision” between the two nations.
Dassault Aviation, for its part, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting India’s defense modernization goals and noted that it would collaborate closely with Indian defense firms to facilitate the integration of the jets into naval operations.
The delivery schedule for the 26 Rafales has not yet been confirmed, but sources suggest that the first batch could arrive within the next three years, subject to technical modifications for carrier operations.
As India continues to expand its military footprint to counter regional threats and assert its maritime influence, the Rafale acquisition is seen as a pivotal move in boosting its naval aviation capabilities and enhancing interoperability with Western defense systems.
