French aircraft package for India – attractive or not?
France is attempting to tease India into buying aircraft and helicopters, but such a package deal may not be the ideal solution for Delhi.
France is upping the ante to take forward defence cooperation with India.
At the annual strategic dialogue in Delhi on 7 January, Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic advisor to President Macron, proposed a second tranche of 36 Rafale fighters, six leased A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) and transfer of the AS565 Panther assembly line to India.
A Ministry of External Affairs statement said the two sides held discussions on ‘counterterrorism, cybersecurity, defence cooperation, maritime security, regional and global issues and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region’.
However, there is scepticism on the reduced price of €5 billion ($6.04 billion) quoted by French media
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![AI-controlled F-16s advance towards autonomous multi-aircraft operations in US]()
AI-controlled F-16s advance towards autonomous multi-aircraft operations in US
The US plans to progressively expand VENOM/AIR testing from single-aircraft flights to multi-platform autonomous operations over the next 12–24 months, generating data that could support future US military AI programmes, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
-
![AIM-260 JATM deal puts Australia’s missile-industrial ambitions in focus]()
AIM-260 JATM deal puts Australia’s missile-industrial ambitions in focus
While a potentially accelerated acquisition timeline could strengthen the RAAF’s long-range air combat capability, Canberra’s continued reliance on US missile production is also put under the spotlight in parallel to its push to build a sovereign industry.
-
![Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?]()
Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?
Demand signals for counter-drone technology are strong and the market is becoming crowded, but is this really the beginning of a new phase of warfare or will commentators be talking about something else 10 years from now?
