India Accelerates 114 Rafale Deal Ahead of Macron’s February Visit

Ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in February, practical steps have accelerated for the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets. Yesterday, the Indian Defence Procurement Board approved the proposal to procure 114 additional Rafale combat aircraft from the French company Dassault Aviation.

This approval was granted during a meeting chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. This agreement is described as the largest defense deal in India’s history, with an estimated value of approximately Rs.3.25 lakh crore. It will significantly enhance the combat capability of the Indian Air Force.

Under the agreement, 12 to 18 complete aircraft are expected to be delivered to India from France immediately to meet the urgent operational needs of the Indian Air Force, while the remaining aircraft will be assembled in India. This proposal will now be presented before the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and final approval will be sought from the Cabinet Committee on Security (chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) by next month.

India aims to sign the Rafale aircraft agreement during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in February 2026. It is noteworthy that upon completion of the agreement, India will have a total of 173 Rafale aircraft.

The Air Force previously had 36 Rafale jets, of which 3 were destroyed in the recent India-Pakistan war, leaving 33. The Navy has 26 Rafale M aircraft, and with the new agreement for 114 Rafale jets, India will have 173 Rafale aircraft in total.