India signs €33 bn deal to acquire 114 French Rafale fighter jets

India has confirmed a strategic purchase of 114 Rafale multirole fighter aircraft from France’s Dassault Aviation, Thales and Safran, valued at about €33 billion. The agreement includes extensive technology transfer, allowing the majority of the jets – roughly 90‑plus aircraft – to be assembled and equipped in Indian factories, with at least half of the components produced locally under the Make in India program. The deal also provides India full access to the aircraft’s electronic systems, enabling integration with indigenous weapons such as the BrahMos cruise missile. The procurement follows earlier acquisitions of 36 Rafale jets and 26 carrier‑compatible versions, and is intended to replace ageing MiG‑21s and strengthen the Indian Air Force amid heightened tensions on the Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir front.

The contract represents the largest defence purchase in India’s history and deepens the defence partnership between New Delhi and Paris, positioning France as a key supplier alongside the United States and Russia.