France has reaffirmed its dedication to India’s “Make in India” defence initiative, indicating that the potential acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be modeled differently than past agreements. During his visit on June 13-14, PM Modi is expected to discuss the procurement further in bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the summit.
India is advancing a ₹3.25 lakh crore ($39 billion) program to acquire 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. Moving away from a traditional client-vendor model, France envisions this as an equal strategic partnership anchored in co-development. French officials emphasize that these joint programs are tightly aligned with India’s Make in India initiative, focusing heavily on indigenous manufacturing, domestic integration of weapons systems, and extensive industrial participation by Indian entities.
Prime Minister Modi and President Macron are expected to spotlight civil nuclear energy alongside their defense discussions. French officials remain optimistic about joint initiatives in the nuclear sector, largely due to India’s recent legislative reforms.
News Edit KV Raman
