India has finalized a deal to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets from France, the Ministry of Defence announced yesterday, expanding its fleet as part of a broader push to modernize its military forces.
The multi-billion-dollar agreement, signed between the two governments, will provide India with both single-seat and twin-seat variants of the Rafale, manufactured by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation. These new jets will join the 36 Rafales India previously acquired, further strengthening its air power.
According to the Defence Ministry, the package includes not just the aircraft, but also training services, simulators, weapons, related equipment, and long-term maintenance support. Of the 26 jets, 22 will be single-seaters and four will be twin-seaters. The deal also covers additional equipment upgrades for the Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet.
The jets are intended for deployment on India’s domestically built aircraft carriers, where they will replace aging Russian-made MiG-29K fighters.
India first announced its plans to buy these additional Rafales during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France for Bastille Day celebrations in 2023.
Although India has historically relied on Russia for much of its military hardware, it has increasingly diversified its defense partnerships, making major acquisitions from France, the United States, and Israel in recent years.
Dassault Aviation praised the deal, stating the Rafales would provide India with advanced military capabilities and strengthen its role as a leading global power. The company also noted that India’s navy would become the first international operator of the Rafale Marine variant.
The signing of the agreement comes at a tense moment, as relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated following a deadly militant attack in Kashmir on April 22 that left 26 people dead. Since the attack, tensions have escalated with diplomatic expulsions, border closures, and exchanges of gunfire, fueling concerns about a potential military confrontation.
India’s earlier contract for 36 Rafale jets, signed in 2016, was valued at around $9.4 billion.
As the world’s fifth-largest economy and most populous nation, India is increasingly seen as a crucial market by major arms suppliers. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India became the world’s largest arms importer between 2019 and 2023, accounting for nearly 10% of all global weapons imports.
