India inks deal with France for 26 Rafale jets in major military upgrade

The Indian Defence Ministry has announced that an agreement was signed with France to acquire 26 Rafale fighter jets.

The multi-billion-dollar deal includes 22 single-seat and four twin-seat aircraft, further enhancing India's air and naval capabilities, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

"The governments of India and France have signed an inter-governmental agreement for the procurement of 26 Rafale Aircraft," the defence ministry said.

The jets, manufactured by France's Dassault Aviation, will be stationed on Indian-built aircraft carriers, replacing the aging fleet of Russian MiG-29K fighters.

"It includes training, simulator, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics," the ministry noted. "It also includes additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF)."

India first announced its intention to buy the jets in 2023 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France. 

This move continues India’s shift away from traditional Russian defence partnerships, expanding ties with Western nations including France, the US, and Israel. Dassault Aviation emphasised that the Rafales will provide India with "state-of-the-art capabilities" and help "guarantee national sovereignty." 

The Rafale Marine will be operated by India’s navy, marking the first use of the naval variant outside France. The deal comes amid rising tensions with Pakistan and ongoing concerns over China’s regional ambitions. India, the world's top arms importer, continues to bolster its defence sector with a blend of foreign purchases and domestic production, aiming to enhance security while developing its growing defence export market.

By Naila Huseynova