France confirms India’s interest in Rafale F5, potential first export customer

Tariq Habib Afridi said:
In my opinion the best course for india is to go with russian su-57 with TOT and then start on improving that. this way they can easily develop their indegeneous capability which is crucial for upgrades with time. However, I dont know if they have the same TOT for rafale F4/F5? If so then they are on the right track slowly but eventually they can become on par with next 20-25 years
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Tot will not be given by the Russians, it's one of the major leverages they have.

And their production rate will be what for these jets?


东风夜放花千树 said:
China has not smeared the Rafale. China's and Pakistan's J-10C and PL-15 really like the Rafale. The Pakistan Air Force put on a show for the whole world called 'You can't see me, but I asked the PL-15 to say hello to you.'

India must give up the idea of trying to invade Pakistan. Indian pilots' skills and aircraft are already behind Pakistan's. Maintaining peace is the choice that best serves India's interests. India should focus on domestic affairs and, with Russia's help, restore its international standing.
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It was Chinese tech, and warfare doctrine with paf tactics execution and embellishments that won the day
Tariq Habib Afridi said:
India has one other and rational option. Lets make peace with china and pakistan and let go these cold war mentality and this idea of akhand bharat. let this side of area prosperous for the people over here and dont become west puppy.

Whatever their genuine concerns are lets sort it out on table. Let China, India and Pakistan sit and like civilized people sort out all issues on table and let south asian people quality of life improve with long lasting peace.
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India is already looking for avenues to try and exploit China technologically,. It's not just have a truce, have a partnership so India can be stronger. Good luck.
 
I believe India does NOT need to spend so much on defense. India has a very simple solution, if Modi kiss the feet of Xi Jinping and kiss the hand of Asim Munir, all the problems will go away. India can focus on building greater India. 😂

Seriously, India should try to resolve the differences with neighboring countries and move on. Why playing in the hands of firingi nations?
 
Deino said:
Haven't I always said it ... ;)

View attachment 179004
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Indian "strategic planning" at its bes.

Watch this video.... you will like it..

The Rafale Roar: Rs 3.25 Lakh Crore Slap On Cynics​




>> A good video to watch if you want to see the "alternative reality" India has created around the Rafale and Sindoor.
 
A hell for jehadis surely. Groups must be hiding 🤣😂
 

India to make Rafale jets with France in boost to defence ties, Macron says​

Reuters Published February 19, 2026 Updated about 2 hours ago

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France’s President Emmanuel Macron speaks with media after attending the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19, 2026. — AFP
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France and India are entering a new era of defence cooperation with plans to jointly produce Rafale fighter jets as well as helicopters, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, adding France also hopes to sell more submarines to India.

India’s expected order for another 114 Rafales is a “new step forward” in defence ties between the two countries and France hopes to see this replicated with submarines as well, Macron told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to India.

“On Rafale, what we want to do is expand. India confirmed a few days ago its willingness to command a new bunch of Rafales … 114 … and to co-produce in India,” Macron said.

The Defence Acquisition Council of India’s defence ministry last week gave initial clearance to acquire 114 more Rafale jets for the air force, besides other planes and missiles, months after the worst fighting in decades between India and Pakistan.


So far, India has purchased 36 Rafales for its air force and ordered another 26 marine versions of the jet for the navy.

Details of the Rafale deal, including plans for co-production, expected to be sealed after technical and commercial negotiations, are yet to be made public.

Indian media reports have said that the 114 jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation are expected to cost 3.25 trillion Indian rupees ($35.65 billion).

They have also reported that up to 90 of the 114 jets could be produced in India with a joint venture partner who is yet to be identified.

“Rafale is absolutely key,” Macron said. “I hope we will do it on submarines. We offered additional capacities.”

The Indian navy operates six French Scorpene submarines and local media reports say there are plans to order more.

On Tuesday, Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the first H125 helicopter assembly line, made in India by a joint venture between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems, as well as a plan to jointly produce Hammer missiles in India, by Safran and India’s state-owned Bharat Electronics.

Rafale jets flown by the Indian Air Force were in the spotlight during the four-day conflict between Pakistan and India in May 2025.

In the immediate aftermath of the conflict, Pakistan said it took down six Indian fighter jets during the conflict, including the Rafale. New Delhi acknowledged “some losses” during the conflict but denied losing six jets.

Months later in September, PM Shehbaz — during a United Nations General Assembly speech — said that the Pakistan Air Force turned “seven of the Indian jets” into scrap and dust.

www.dawn.com

India to make Rafale jets with France in boost to defence ties, Macron says

Says India’s expected order for another 114 Rafales is a “new step forward” in defence ties.
www.dawn.com
 
Great deal

For France

They are milking the Indians,

The indians are completely cornered and option less and France has taken the opportunity to milk the Indian cow


The indians will be paying through their nose for decades
 
hussain0216 said:
Great deal

For France

They are milking the Indians,

The indians are completely cornered and option less and France has taken the opportunity to milk the Indian cow


The indians will be paying through their nose for decades
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Yes, the French will be milking the Indians. lol.
But here is the catch, Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistani airforce turned the Indian planes into scrap.

These Rafale planes are not that good anyways.
 
Muji.Iqbal said:
Yes, the French will be milking the Indians. lol.
But here is the catch, Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistani airforce turned the Indian planes into scrap.

These Rafale planes are not that good anyways.
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The indians could have had this deal at least 15-20 years ago

The indians dithered like crazy, trusted that Tejas would be some sort of super plane, Amca would be flying, Su57, Kaveri etc etc etc

Tejas is a dud
AMCA is still on paper and without help would be Tejas Mark 2
They have no engine
SU57 is questionable


So they wasted about 20 years


So now Tejas is facing endless delays and questionable quality

They are trying to get Tejas 2 off the ground

AMCA simply isn't going to be ready without external support

And they have no engine



So out of sheer desperation and lack of options, Mother India has spread her legs for France and said 'take what you want and give us what we need'


So for a massive sum

India will buy a engine - this is not a joint development, why would France need India to make a engine?


India will get some manufacturing but let's be realistic how much will France really give to India?

India is desperate and France is happy
 
Muji.Iqbal said:
Yes, the French will be milking the Indians. lol.
But here is the catch, Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistani airforce turned the Indian planes into scrap.

These Rafale planes are not that good anyways.
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The F4 variant brings with it networking capabilities that are very good, which replicate a lot of what Pakistan has done for itself. I would not dismiss the F4 variant that easily. The two problems that the IAF has is that the primary BVR for the Rafale is the Meteor which is outranged by the PL15E ( and Astra is an unknown given lack of pedigree in India for BVR missiles and the range claims made for them). The second problem is the lack of an effective AEW&C/AWACs to these Rafales, and I have my eye on whether the Indians get the Global Eye(unlikey) or the E7 Wedgetail ( more more likely imho given the same platform as the P8i ).

The NETRA AEW&C has proven to be a dud, and I do think India is on the hunt for a proper platform off the shelf asap.
 
It is indeed dangerous however, let's be clear

The Indians are suckers and paying exorbitant amounts, BUT this will give them a engine and they will get Rafael's


The Rafael is great plane, the Indians just messed up and had very poor tactics


So Pakistan will have to work out how to counter this threat, we cannot be complacent
 
hussain0216 said:
It is indeed dangerous however, let's be clear

The Indians are suckers and paying exorbitant amounts, BUT this will give them a engine and they will get Rafael's


The Rafael is great plane, the Indians just messed up and had very poor tactics


So Pakistan will have to work out how to counter this threat, we cannot be complacent
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True, we must not become arrogant.

We must work hard at how to counter this threat.
 
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