India and France Strengthen Defence Partnership with Rafale-Marine Deal and Expanding Industrial Cooperation

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the bilateral relationship has achieved significant milestones over the past decade, including the induction of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force and the successful completion of the Scorpene-class submarine programme under Project-75, marking a major advancement in India’s undersea warfare capabilities.

A key breakthrough in this evolving partnership came in April 2025, when India and France signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement for the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. The agreement also incorporates provisions for technology transfer and the integration of Indian indigenous weapon systems, reinforcing India’s push for greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

France has further emerged as a critical partner in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aimed at strengthening domestic defence production capabilities. French aerospace company Safran has established India’s first deep-level aircraft engine Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility near Hyderabad. The company has also announced plans to set up an M88 engine maintenance facility for Rafale fighter aircraft and has entered into multiple partnerships for the manufacture of advanced weapon systems within India.

The Ministry of External Affairs noted that military cooperation between the two countries has expanded significantly through increasingly complex joint exercises, including Exercise Shakti, Exercise Garuda, and Exercise Varuna, conducted across the army, air force, and naval domains.

The growing defence partnership reflects a broader strategic convergence between India and France in the Indo-Pacific region, where both nations share concerns regarding maritime security, freedom of navigation, and the maintenance of regional stability