Update: India’s Rafale-M deal postponed
India could host a Rafale FAL in Nagpur as part of expanding Indo-French fighter jet cooperation. (Photo: Dassault Aviation)
New Delhi had been gearing up to sign a Navy Rafale deal as talks swirled around a potential assembly line in Nagpur.
India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the long-awaited procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy. The deal was expected to be signed in New Delhi on April 28 or 29 during a scheduled visit by French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, but the signing has now been postponed.
The delay follows a lethal terror attack on 22 April by terrorists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region which killed more than 26 tourists. India ordered the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission and its border, while Pakistan has shut down its airspace for Indian
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance]()
Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance
New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.
-
![Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training]()
Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training
In Conversation... Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to CAE's Marc-Olivier Sabourin about how the training and simulation industry can help militaries achieve essential levels of readiness by leveraging new technology, innovative procurement methods and a truly collaborative approach.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry]()
Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry
As European countries increase their defence budgets, the Paris Air Show will look to how the aerospace industry’s responds, with programme progression, new technology and industrial partnerships all expected to take centre stage at Le Bourget.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution
The solution, named HTeaming, has already been tested in flight with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and an Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
