Ilya Vedmedenko12:23, 13.02.26
The French Dassault Rafale is one of the most popular fighter jets on the global market.
India has approved the purchase of approximately $40 billion in weapons, including 114 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets, six American patrol aircraft, and missiles, Bloomberg reports, citing informed sources .
The decision was allegedly made by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Rajnath Singh. In India itself, the potential deal has already been dubbed “the mega-contract of all time.”
The future contract with Dassault Aviation is expected to be worth $39 billion. According to local media, approximately 20 aircraft will be supplied directly by Dassault, while the remainder will be manufactured at domestic facilities in India.
Thus, Macron’s visit to India next week could become a truly historic event. It will allow France to maintain its status as one of India’s main military-technical partners and finally replace Russia, which has long been an active arms supplier to New Delhi.
As a reminder, France and India previously signed a contract for 36 Rafale fighter jets. A further agreement was later signed for the delivery of 26 Rafale M carrier-based aircraft to Indian aircraft carriers.
(c)UNIAN 2026
I can’t see the US being to happy about it either. $39 billion is a huge contract, but the Indians must have finally realised that they need a reliable partner, not one that promises the world, but delivers junk.
Unfortunately the proud Russian tradition of shoddy workmanship comes back to bit them in the ass yet again.
An example of which was the case were they sent 100 fighter jet engines and only 50% of them were functional.