President Emmanuel Macron met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai as France and India edge closer to a $35bn purchase of 114 Rafale jets, potentially India’s largest defence acquisition. Both leaders stressed defence co-operation, though final terms remain under negotiation.
Modi said the India-France partnership “is a force for global stability” while inaugurating India’s first private helicopter assembly line, a joint venture between Airbus and Tata Sons.
Macron highlighted French support for local production, saying companies were ready to offer “unprecedented forms of co-operation…like the final assembly line Tata is developing for Airbus helicopters.”
India’s air force currently operates fewer than 30 fighter squadrons, below its target of 42, amid past losses to Pakistani aircraft.
The deal would boost India’s domestic defence sector and reinforce France’s aerospace presence, with bilateral trade at €15bn annually.
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