India and France seal Rafale-M deal as plans for local assembly advance
India and France have finalised a deal for the Indian Navy to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets as local production and technology transfer plans take shape. (Image: Steve Lynes / Wikimedia Commons)
Inter-governmental agreement signed as final assembly line plans inch closer.
India and France have signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on April 28 in New Delhi for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy. The order includes 22 single-seaters and four twin-seaters.
The agreement, originally intended to be signed formally between the two defence ministers of India and France, was modified after the postponement of French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s visit, as earlier reported by Shephard.
Instead, the IGA was signed by India Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh following receipt of the agreement already signed by Lecornu.
The supply protocol and weapons package agreement were
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![Finland secures possible $1.07 billion AMRAAM deal with US State Department]()
Finland secures possible $1.07 billion AMRAAM deal with US State Department
The Nordic country is set to bolster its defence capabilities after its foreign military sales request for AIM-120D-3 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs) was approved.
-
![DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine]()
DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine
The programme will work to build and deploy the drones to Ukraine to support its fight against Russia, coming a day after Poland shot down 19 Russian drones in its airspace.
-
![DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue]()
DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue
The addition of Red Cat’s Black Widow to NATO’s NSPA catalogue opens the doors for allied forces to more easily procure the AI-enabled drone.
-
![DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight]()
DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight
An evolution of the Tekever AR3, the AR3 EVO that broke cover at DSEI incorporates the thousands of incremental evolutions the company has implemented through its spiral development, geared towards delivering a constant stream of improved aircraft to Ukraine.
-
![DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs]()
DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs
The new capabilities are based on platforms already in use or in development, and are designed to perform in demanding defence missions.
