The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, approved a nearly ₹63,000-crore deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy, official sources confirmed. The contract is expected to be concluded later this month. It includes 22 single-seater jets that can operate from aircraft carriers and fourContinue reading “26 Rafale for Navy – Add IAF’s 114 and “Make-in-India-for-the-World””
Tag Archives: France
Rafale Orders Explode! India Eyes Becoming Production Hub For French Jets After ‘Biggest Ever’ IAF Deal
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on November 17, 2025, and announced that Ukraine will acquire up to 100 Dassault Rafale warplanes over the next 10 years. Kyiv seeks to bolster its defences against Russia’s invasion. Air defence systems, munitions, and drones were also included in theContinue reading “Rafale Orders Explode! India Eyes Becoming Production Hub For French Jets After ‘Biggest Ever’ IAF Deal”
India’s Deepening Military Aviation’s French Connection
The primacy of air power in future military operations has once again been re-established in the Ukraine conflict, West Asian showdowns, and most recently during Op Sindoor. Indian Air Force (IAF) is down to 29 fighter aircraft squadrons vis-à-vis the authorized 42.5. The last MiG-21 “Bison” squadron is being decommissioned this September. The LCA Mk1A is still mired by delays and will enter IAF serviceContinue reading “India’s Deepening Military Aviation’s French Connection”
Make in India Rafale Fuselage – A Strategic Move Forward
In a big boost to Make-in-India, Dassault Aviation of France and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will partner for Rafale aircraft fuselage manufacturing at a dedicated facility in Hyderabad. The key structural sections of the aircraft to be manufactured in India include the central fuselage, rear section, lateral rear shells, and the front section.Continue reading “Make in India Rafale Fuselage – A Strategic Move Forward”
Multiple Origin Fleets – Complexities for IAF – Time to Rationalise
At the time of independence, Indian Air Force (IAF) inherited some of the aviation assets left by the British including Hawker Tempest and Spitfires. India also procured more British aircraft like the Hawker Hunter, the Gnat, Devon, and Vickers Viscount. The USA was reluctant but offered some helicopters. The French offered fighter aircraft in theContinue reading “Multiple Origin Fleets – Complexities for IAF – Time to Rationalise”
Leasing Defence Equipment – Faster, Cheaper, and Effective
Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 that became effective last year, was meant to hasten the procurement process. It introduced for the first time the option for the armed forces to procure military equipment on lease. Given the resource crunch facing the Indian armed forces, the option of leasing would be a handy option for theContinue reading “Leasing Defence Equipment – Faster, Cheaper, and Effective”
French Colonel René Paul Fonck – The Highest Scoring All-time Allied Ace of Aces – 75 Victories
Colonel René Paul Fonck (27 March 1894 – 18 June 1953) was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top fighter ace and, when all succeeding aerial conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries are also considered, Fonck still holds the title of “all-time Allied Ace of Aces”. He received confirmation for 75 victories (72 soloContinue reading “French Colonel René Paul Fonck – The Highest Scoring All-time Allied Ace of Aces – 75 Victories”
Rafale Set to Arrive in Ambala – Induction and Operationalisation – Plan to Compress Schedules
Five Rafale are set to land on Indian soil at Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Ambala airbase in less than a month on 29 July 2020. Earlier India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh had formally received the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft contracted at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore by India at a specialContinue reading “Rafale Set to Arrive in Ambala – Induction and Operationalisation – Plan to Compress Schedules”
Dassault Rafale – The Gust of Wind – Despite COVID – All Set to Arrive on Schedule
There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly respected, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. “The contractual delivery schedule of the Rafale jets has been perfectly respected till now, and, in fact, a new aircraft wasContinue reading “Dassault Rafale – The Gust of Wind – Despite COVID – All Set to Arrive on Schedule”
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