India is set to sign new billion-dollar deal to purchase 40 Rafale fighter jets (X @Dassault_OnAir)
India plans to acquire 40 additional Rafale fighter jets as part of an effort to strengthen its Air Force, which currently operates below the target of 41 squadrons needed to counter threats, especially from China.
The new contract is expected to be signed between April 28 and 29, 2025, and will run in parallel with another agreement focused on naval aviation. The negotiation, described as an accelerated process within the MRFA-plus program, is part of the country’s attempt to address the lack of a medium-sized multifunctional aircraft with extensive local production and good cost-effectiveness.
Advanced talks with French manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Safran aim to expand cooperation between the two countries, going beyond simple purchase and also involving joint production, maintenance, and support. This partnership is expected to help standardize armaments between the air and naval forces, particularly with the arrival of the carrier-based version of the Rafale. India already operates two squadrons of the model and has also finalized negotiations for the purchase of 26 units intended for the Navy, in an agreement estimated at $7.6 billion.
India’s involvement with Rafale fighter jets began in 2015 when the country announced the purchase of 36 units on an emergency basis. The contract was formalized in 2016, deliveries began in 2020, and were completed in 2022, with the exception of one aircraft held in France for specific improvement tests.
The strengthening of this partnership reflects India’s growing interest in French armaments and France’s desire to integrate India’s industry into its defense sector.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @Dassault_OnAir | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Livraison du premier #Rafale au Gouvernement indien https://t.co/Yammp2H9GS
First Indian Air Force #Rafale Handover to the Government of India https://t.co/slacrYE00t pic.twitter.com/1awSLpymaO— Dassault Aviation (@Dassault_OnAir) October 8, 2019
