New Delhi: On November 17, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a joint press conference at the Elysée Palace in Paris to announce Ukraine’s intention to acquire up to 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets over the next 10 years. The move comes as Kiev seeks to strengthen its defenses against Russia’s ongoing aggression.
In addition to Rafale jets, the deal also includes air defense systems, precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, and was formalized through a letter of intent signed with both countries’ flags prominently displayed behind the Rafale aircraft.
Dassault Aviation celebrated the milestone of producing the 300th Rafale in October 2025. To date, there are 533 firm orders for the aircraft from France and export customers including India, Egypt, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, UAE, Serbia and Indonesia. Of these, 233 aircraft are still awaiting delivery.
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These figures do not include the 100 aircraft that Ukraine has expressed interest in or the Indian Air Force’s proposal for 114 Rafale jets currently under consideration by the Indian Defense Ministry. Both deals, if they go ahead, would have a huge impact on production and global supply.
Rafale production rate has jumped from two aircraft per month in 2024 to three aircraft per month in late 2025. Plans are underway to further increase production to four aircraft per month and 48 aircraft per year. Expansion of the Mérignac facility in France and new infrastructure in Cergy-Pontoise support this capacity increase.
Dassault is also preparing to manufacture Rafale airframes in India, which could speed up production and reduce costs for domestic and international customers.
The Indian Navy has already ordered 26 Rafales. If the IAF’s 114-aircraft proposal is approved, India will have a complete assembly line dedicated to producing ‘Made in India’ Rafales, increasing overall production and opening the door to supply to global buyers.
innovative defense investment
The Indian Ministry of Defense has received a detailed proposal from the IAF to acquire 114 Rafale aircraft in collaboration with Dassault Aviation and Indian aerospace companies. The proposal, valued at more than 2 billion rupees ($22 billion), includes more than 60 percent indigenous content. The proposal will be considered by the Defense Procurement Committee, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. If approved, it would be the largest defense agreement in India’s history.
Choosing the Rafale ensures fleet continuity while avoiding the complexities of integrating multiple types of aircraft. The IAF has inducted 36 Rafales and the Navy has ordered 26. If an additional 114 aircraft are approved, the total number of aircraft in the fleet will be 176.
Dassault already has a partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to produce 25 aircraft a year in India. Domestic content will also gradually increase. Maintenance, repair and overhaul of the M-88 engine will be carried out in Hyderabad.
The IAF, which currently operates 29 squadrons against the authorized 42.5 squadrons, is in dire need of new fighter jets due to regional threats and the gradual retirement of older aircraft such as the MiG-21. The upgraded Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 will be operational for the next 10 years, while the Su-30 MKI, Rafale and indigenous LCA and AMCA aircraft will form the backbone of India’s future aircraft fleet.
Manufacture of Indian Rafale aircraft
In June 2025, Dassault and TASL agreed to establish a dedicated facility in Hyderabad for the production of Rafale airframes. The facility will produce front, midfuselage, aft, and aft side shells. The first fuselage section is expected to be deployed by fiscal year 2028, allowing production of up to two complete fuselages per month. This will be the first time that the Rafale aircraft will be manufactured outside France.
Four production transfer agreements (PTAs) were signed. The Hyderabad facility serves as a key hub for the manufacturing of high-precision aerostructures. Dassault brings unparalleled expertise to the partnership, having delivered more than 10,000 military and civilian aircraft in more than 90 countries.
India’s Safran cooperates with domestically produced jet engine
French company Safran is partnering with India’s DRDO and GTRE to develop India’s first jet engine using entirely Indian intellectual property. The project will produce a 120 kilonewton (kN) engine for the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with power increasing to 140 kN over 12 years.
Nine prototype engines will be built with monocrystalline blades that exhibit superior performance under high stresses and temperatures. Tata, L&T, Adani Defense and other Indian companies will contribute. This initiative positions India as a country capable of producing indigenous fighter jet engines, along with the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France.
Proven combat platform
The twin-engine delta-winged Rafale is a versatile fighter aircraft with stealth capabilities capable of air superiority, interdiction, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence missions. He has participated in combat operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, Syria, and most recently in Operation Sindur.
Advanced avionics, AESA radar, SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, and EROS reconnaissance system make it highly lethal.
India’s Rafale fleet includes 36 aircraft worth 7.87 billion pounds, with two squadrons located at separate air bases. It is equipped with 14 hard points that can withstand a load of 9,500 kg, and is equipped with air-to-air missiles such as Matra Magic II, MBDA MICA, and Meteor, as well as air-to-ground missiles such as Scalp and Hammer. The upgraded F3R standard ensures interoperability with F4 and F5 variants and future upgrade possibilities.
Win-win between India and France
India has a strong history of acquiring French aircraft, from the Dassault Ouragan and Mystère IVA of the 1950s to the SEPECAT Jaguar and Mirage 2000. France remains a reliable partner, free from the threat of sanctions or political pressure. Manufacturing the Rafale in India will reduce costs, increase production and strengthen bilateral aerospace cooperation.
The approval of 114 Indian-made Rafales takes India’s total order, including the navy, to 140 aircraft and solidifies India’s position as a global Rafale production hub.
