Rafale, Scorpene & 6th-gen jet: How India and France are taking defence ties to the next level
India and France have elevated their partnership to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. This collaboration focuses on deeper technological and defense cooperation between the nations. Recent agreements include additional Rafale fighter procurement and potential FCAS participation. The relationship has evolved from buyer-seller to co-development and co-production. This partnership aims to…
On June 14, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Nice, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing defense partnership between India and France. This meeting was more than a mere formalities at the G20 summit; it signified the relationship's elevation to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.
The two nations have been collaborating in defense for decades, starting with the procurement of French aircraft like Rafale, Scorpene submarines, and 6th-generation jets. The partnership has expanded beyond defence, encompassing areas like artificial intelligence, the blue economy, innovation, renewable energy, and trilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
The 2026 India-France Year of Innovation was launched during Macron's visit, setting the tone for a deeper strategic cooperation. The defense sector has seen significant progress, with the delivery of 36 Rafale fighters in 2022, the commissioning of the last Scorpene-class submarine in 2025, and the agreement for 26 Rafale-M aircraft for the Indian Navy in 2023.
The annual defence dialogue between India and France was held in Bengaluru, leading to the renewal of a 10-year defence cooperation agreement and the establishment of reciprocal officer stations at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. The relationship has evolved from a conventional buyer-seller dynamic to co-development and co-production, with India becoming an aircraft engine servicing center and manufacturing precision-guided munitions.
Analysts now describe this evolving model as 'co-sovereignty,' where both nations retain their strategic autonomy while building shared industrial and technological capabilities.
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