NEW DELHI: India has approved a proposed $39 billion purchase of defence equipment, including 114 French Rafale fighter jets, the defence ministry announced on Thursday, days before a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
A ministry source told AFP that this order adds to the few dozen Rafale jets already acquired for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The deal is part of New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on Russia, its traditional supplier, while boosting domestic defence manufacturing.
The defence ministry statement said the majority of jets under the deal will be produced in India, with media reports suggesting Dassault Aviation could manufacture at least 90 of them locally.
The acquisition was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council, which includes top military officials and the defence minister, and now moves to commercial negotiations. Final approval is expected from the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The ministry said the procurement would enhance the IAF’s dominance and deterrence capabilities, including long-range offensive strikes.
The IAF is facing a shortage of operational jets. Some ageing aircraft have been retired, leaving a fleet of 29 jets—well below the approved strength of 42. Bureaucratic delays and insufficient domestic production have contributed to the shortage.
In September, India announced a $7 billion deal for 97 domestically designed Tejas jets, coinciding with the retirement of Soviet-era MiG-21s. Russia’s MiG-29s and French Mirage 2000s are also slated for retirement in the coming years.
Since 2015, India has purchased 36 Rafale jets worth $8.7 billion, followed by a 2025 agreement to acquire 26 more. The government has liberalised laws to encourage private investment in domestic defence manufacturing.
The four-day conflict with Pakistan in May 2025, during which Pakistan shot down several Indian jets including three Rafales, underscored the urgency to modernise India’s air capabilities.
Earlier this month, India announced a record $85 billion defence budget, with plans to jointly design and manufacture a 120 kN jet engine with France over the next decade.
In addition, India is accelerating naval modernisation in response to China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean, placing orders for at least 75 ships and submarines, most to be built domestically, according to the defence ministry.
President Macron is scheduled to visit India on Tuesday, highlighting the strategic defence cooperation between the two countries.