India has finalised a contract to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets from France, deepening its defence partnership with Paris as part of a broader strategy to modernise its armed forces.
New Delhi’s defence ministry announced on Monday that the agreement, signed under an intergovernmental framework, will see the addition of both single-seat and twin-seat Rafale aircraft to its fleet. The order includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater jets, alongside training systems, weapons, simulators, and performance-based logistics support.
The French-built fighters, produced by Dassault Aviation, will eventually replace the ageing fleet of Russian MiG-29K jets aboard India’s homegrown aircraft carriers. The contract also covers equipment upgrades for India’s existing fleet of 36 Rafales, first acquired through a 2016 deal.
India had initially revealed its plan to expand its Rafale fleet in 2023 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France for Bastille Day celebrations.
While Russia has historically been India’s principal arms supplier, New Delhi has diversified its defence acquisitions in recent years, turning to France, the United States, and Israel for advanced military hardware.
Dassault described the new agreement as a milestone that would deliver “state-of-the-art capabilities” to India and strengthen its role on the global stage. The company noted that India’s navy will become the first force outside France to operate the Rafale Marine variant.
