French aerospace company Dassault Aviation is preparing to finalize a massive procurement contract with India covering approximately 114 Rafale fighter jets. With an official visit expected to take place in February, one of the largest export agreements in the history of French aviation is anticipated to be signed.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), aiming to halt the decline in the number of aircraft in its inventory and modernize its operational capabilities, has once again chosen the French Rafale platform under the “Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft” (MRFA) program. According to information reported by Capital.fr, this major order for 114 aircraft will elevate defense cooperation between New Delhi and Paris to a strategic level.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), aiming to halt the decline in the number of aircraft in its inventory and modernize its operational capabilities, has once again chosen the French Rafale platform under the “Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft” (MRFA) program. According to information reported by Capital.fr, this major order for 114 aircraft will elevate defense cooperation between New Delhi and Paris to a strategic level.
Macron’s Visit and a Critical Timeline
It is stated that the agreement could be officially finalized during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to New Delhi on 19–20 February 2026, held on the occasion of the AI Impact Summit. This move would represent the third—and largest—procurement step following India’s previous orders of 36 aircraft in 2016 and the 26-unit Rafale Marine package approved in 2025.
Strategic Objective: “Make in India” and Local Production
Dassault Aviation is taking localization strategies to the highest level in line with the Indian government’s “Make in India” vision. Within this framework, projects are being carried out under the “Make in India” initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, which encourages foreign companies to manufacture their products in India.
By deepening its partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited, the French company has established an industrial cooperation model. A new production facility currently under construction in Hyderabad has been designed with the capacity to manufacture 24 Rafale aircraft fuselages per year. According to the planned timeline, the first locally assembled Rafale jets are expected to enter the Indian Air Force inventory in 2028. One of the most critical aspects of the project is that approximately 60% of the production process will be carried out locally on Indian soil, fully aligning with New Delhi’s goals of strategic autonomy and technology transfer in the defense industry.
Approval Process and Financial Scope
The contract, expected to be worth approximately 3.25 lakh crore rupees (around USD 39 billion), is set to be reviewed in a high-level evaluation meeting by India’s Ministry of Defence later this week. Following ministerial approval, the proposal is expected to be submitted for final approval to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Source: C4Defence / Capital.fr
