India is once again considering buying French Rafale fighter jets.

India is once again planning to purchase French Rafale fighter jets. The Defence Acquisition Council has already approved a preliminary decision to purchase 114 new aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation, according to Indian media reports.

The Indian Air Force intends to significantly expand its fleet of French Rafale fighters. Currently, the Indian Air Force operates 36 French fighters, while the Indian Navy ordered 26 Rafale-M carrier-based fighters for its new aircraft carriers last year. After ordering 114 aircraft, the total number of aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force and Navy will reach 176.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has reportedly approved the proposal to purchase 114 Rafale fighter jets. Now the floor is with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If it approves the deal, the purchase of the French aircraft will be officially announced.

The Indians are in a hurry, as French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in the country in a few days to attend a summit on artificial intelligence. A decision on the aircraft will likely be made before his visit, so all formalities can be completed immediately. If the contract for 114 Rafale fighters is signed, India intends to purchase 18 of the aircraft from the French in pre-assembled form and assemble the rest domestically.

New Delhi previously criticized the French aircraft for their high cost, but this apparently does not stop the Indians.

Comments

[Aken]

Apparently, they never found anything more suitable.

[Mini Mokik]

Well, Russia certainly can't give them anything at the moment. And the Indians are real buyers. They're like extortionists 💃🕺

[Ballnatrae]

It can't offer anything except organizing the assembly of the Su-57 on their territory. Otherwise, of course, nothing.

[Shurik70]

It would make an interesting film if we filmed a meeting of the Indian cabinet of ministers planning the budget for the year ahead.
Imagine, they stand up, start a group dance, sing, and argue in song.
Music plays in the background.

[ratfly]

The French crawled back into their old hole, the one they'd dug when the first Rafales were sold. The chain of clients survived and was back in business. No moral qualms or rationality, just personal gain.

[Sky strike fighter]

No one even cares that Indian Rafales were defeated by Pakistani J-10CEs in aerial combat last year. They're still buying new Rafales, even if they performed poorly.

As CNN reported, citing a source in Pakistani intelligence, a total of 125 fighter jets clashed for over an hour. During the air battle, neither Indian nor Pakistani aircraft crossed the borders of either country, but instead engaged in combat at ranges sometimes exceeding 150-160 km. ... The air battle resulted in the downing of five Indian Air Force fighters: three Rafale, one MiG-29, and one Su-30MKI. It is believed that during the fighting, the Chengdu J-10CE fighter with PL-15E missiles demonstrated its unequivocal superiority over the French Dassault Rafale fighters and the Meteor missiles developed by MBDA. In other words, the Chinese aircraft and the Celestial Empire's air-to-air guided missiles demonstrated their high combat qualities in this battle. The Dassault Rafale multirole fighter suffered significant reputational damage and confirmed the eternal truth: the main and only test for any weapon is war, and not the advertising brochures and statements of its developers.

https://www.gazeta.ru/army/2025/05/12/21023414.shtml

[bbss]

Large rollbacks obscure the Sun.

[don_Reba]

Quote: Sky Strike fighter

Nobody even cares that Indian Rafales were beaten by Pakistani J-10CEs in aerial combat last year.

Gzazeta (dot) ru is certainly a more authoritative source than Lenta (c) ru…
But Khodaryonok is mistaken (unless the journalists have distorted his words).
French Rafales have nothing to do with it:
Swedish AWACS
+
Pakistan Data Link 17
+
"China's Live Aid" real-time satellite feed
+ observation posts in the mountains.
Voila.
Oh yes: we must give credit to the Devadasis' skill. They know how to dance.
And the Rafal is not bad.
Let's see how long the J-10s last. The mean time between failures of the PL-15's air defense missiles and anti-aircraft guns is incredibly low.

[Mikhail3]

Quote from Aken

Apparently, they never found anything more suitable.

Well, there you have it! The Indians are absolutely persistent! They always want the lowest price and the highest bribe. They couldn't care less about the planes themselves; it's just a psychological quirk. The French, whose contracts the US completely cut off, are desperate. So they gave them a huge bribe and set a very low price for the planes. Personally, I'm not surprised at all; I expected something like this.

[TermNachTer]

Did the toad-eaters bring the Indians a "fat cutlet" again?))) We can wish the Indians creative Uzbeks)))

[Junior Private]

It's hard to figure out what's going on in the Indians' heads. I'd venture to guess that they were forced into it by the need to acquire naval aviation.

[Wratch]

Sukhoi didn't bring the cutlet for the dancers. Well, let's go buy Rafali. Don't offer them any more.

[Foggy Dew]

BGG))) Actually, we should be cutting back on cooperation with India due to reputational risks. If you sell an Su-57 to these idiots, they'll destroy it on some ancient Pakistani MiG-21 made in China, and they'll say it's because the Su isn't quite right, doesn't sing or dance well.

[Lt. Air Force stock]

The Eurofighter is worse than the Rafale, and only America remains, the F-16 Block-70 is a light fighter, and they need a heavy one, the F-15EX and F/A-18 Block-3 were not offered to them, so they chose the Rafale.

[TermNachTer]

Why the hell did the Rafale get so heavy? Because it has two engines?

[Lt. Air Force stock]

The Rafale's combat load is 9,5 tons, compared to the 5,5 tons of the F-16 and Gripen.

[bondov]

or Su-35 - maximum combat load up to 8000 kg - 8 tons,

[TermNachTer]

The toad-eaters are lying outright. If you hang 9,5 tons on it, how much will be left over for kerosene? What will the speed be? And the maneuverability? It's pure advertising.

[bondov]

However, you are full of unsubstantiated lamentations.

[TermNachTer]

Look to Pakistan for proof))) the toad-eaters promised the Indians "mountains of gold")))

[bondov]

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/how-pakistan-shot-down-indias-cutting-edge-fighter-using-chinese-gear-2025-08-02/
[quote]The faulty intelligence gave the Rafale pilots a false sense of confidence they were out of Pakistani firing distance, which they [/quote]believed was only around 150 km, the Indian officials said, referring to the widely cited range of PL-15's export variant.[/quote]
There is no tragedy in sight here, and yes, they claim that only 1 (one) was shot down
For objectivity: [quote] On June 7, a Ukrainian F-16 fighter won an air battle with a Russian Su-35 for the first time in history – this was reported by the German publication Bild. [/quote] There were similar reports in the past too

[TermNachTer]

Reuters is as much of a dump as Bild; the information they publish isn't worth the paper it's written on. I can tell you that one Bandera MiG-29 shot down 100-500 Su-35s and 80 Su-57s. Did everyone believe it?

[bondov]

So nothing much is really known about the Rafale - they only admitted to shooting down one, and that's all just a guess.

[TermNachTer]

Even if it's just one, although three have been mentioned, I'd like to remind you that the Rafale was marketed as a superplane that would solve all Indian problems at once. Somehow, it didn't happen because there was too much advertising, but in reality, it's all very sad.

[Belisarius]

Quote: Lt. air force reserve

They weren't offered the F-15EX or F/A-18 Block 3, so they chose the Rafale.

They were even offered the F-35, but without technology transfer. And for them this is a mandatory condition.

[cocks]

New Delhi previously criticized the French aircraft for their high cost, but this apparently does not stop the Indians.

If the high price is based on the interests of high-ranking officials, then there’s no way you can stop it.

[navigator777]

Quote: Ballnatrae

It can't offer anything except organizing the assembly of the Su-57 on their territory. Otherwise, of course, nothing.

They don't need heavy aircraft now, the Su-30 is enough for them.

[Vic Vic]

"New Delhi previously criticized French aircraft for their high cost, but apparently this doesn't stop the Indians."
Apparently, the higher the price, the greater the kickback.

[Magog_]

the greater the "kickback"

That's assuming the percentage is the same. In our case, the kickback percentage could be different with Oboronexport, and it's clear which way... In any case, I'm glad we didn't get involved with them. Again, it's easier for the Chinese, and their hypersonic technology is "wow!"

[Soldatov V.]

We ourselves finance the purchase of Rafales by selling cheap oil to India, which it resells to the West at a good margin.

[Montezuma]

Quote: V.

We ourselves finance the purchase of Rafales by selling cheap oil to India, which it resells to the West at a good margin.

Find another buyer with similar purchasing volumes if you don't like India. Everyone is good at practicing in the comments.

[123_123]

The frogs won't let them assemble their planes. They'll sell the finished ones. They're trembling over their technology. Although maybe they're right to do so.

[pexotinec]

The main thing is to deliver it to whoever needs it on time, and in large quantities.

[rocket757]

And what... dancing with tambourines, just the way they like it.

[Sergei Viktorovich Korolev]

Dancers dance themselves a new vimana. With payment for making the buyer happy.

[Z-7478]

The author should have known that, according to Indian law, their Ministry of Defense is obliged to purchase everything from multiple manufacturers! It's mandatory! So, there's nothing new in this "news."

[Vladimirius]

They're just lowering the price. If you've noticed, they do this all the time now. That's what these Indian friends are like.

[Belisarius]

This is how virtual reality is created. In fact, the permanent Indians were planning to purchase the Rafale. This has been known for a long time and is not news.
Well, if we tell people that this is a fabrication of the Western press (as one "patriot" assured me in the weapons section), and that the Su-57 is forever, well, etc., then, of course, this will become news and the Indians will become "fickle."
A virtual victory will immediately turn into defeat, and all that's left to talk about are the "dancers." In reality, this isn't news at all.

[Askold65]

Quote: Belisarius

In fact, the Indians were planning to buy Rafales. This has been known for a long time and is not news.

The Indians were actually planning to purchase the future Su-57, co-financing the project and hoping to also acquire the technology. But something (or someone) told them the Russian technology wasn't perfect, so they withdrew, announcing a new tender. They chose the Rafale, as something had gone wrong with their Tejas. But the question of technology transfer from the French is a big one.
Bottom line: Russians won't get 5th-generation fighter technology; they couldn't build their own aircraft, so they bought an expensive French one, also without access to the "holy of holies" of French engineering.

[Belisarius]

Quote: Askold65

In fact, the Indians planned to purchase the future Su-57, participating in the financing of the project, hoping to also obtain the technology for it.

This is significantly earlier than the MRFA program. And they wanted to participate in the creation of the 5th generation, but then actually withdrew, assessing the project as unpromising for them.
Under the MRFA program, they were initially offered the MiG-35, and then the Su-57. But the Rafale, which they are currently purchasing, won. But they're still being offered the Su-57, even outside the MRFA. And at incredibly favorable terms that no one else would even come close to offering.
The conditions are so favorable that if the SVO runs out, the Su-57 could be purchased in parallel with the Rafales.

Quote: Askold65

since something went wrong with their "Tegias" too.

This is a completely separate program for replacing the MiG-21. It doesn't overlap with the MRFA. And they're actively purchasing Tejas.

[Askold65]

Quote: Belisarius

But they're still being offered the Su-57, in addition to the MRFA. And at incredibly favorable terms that no one else will even come close to offering.
The conditions are so favorable that if the SVO runs out, the Su-57 could be purchased alongside the Rafales.

Here's the question: why buy an expensive and unprofitable previous-generation Rafale when you could order a next-generation, fifth-generation fighter on incredibly favorable terms? I'm talking about today's reality, with the Su-57 already in serial production. And if it were equipped with Israeli avionics, it would be one of the best aircraft in the world.

[solar]

But what about the transfer of technology from the French is a big question.

From the very beginning, the technology transfer condition was the purchase of a sufficiently large batch. But the Indians were cautious – they initially purchased a small batch, tested them, and are now ready to order a larger one with the technology transfer.

[Fangaro]

Quote: ratfly

The French crawled back into their old hole, the one they'd dug when the first Rafales were sold. The chain of clients survived and was back in business. No moral qualms or rationality, just personal gain.

Moral anguish among sellers and buyers of military equipment and weapons?

[Fangaro]

Quote: V.

We ourselves finance the purchase of Rafales by selling cheap oil to India, which it resells to the West at a good margin.

What should we do with our oil? Not sell it to India? Keep it all in the country? And what will we do with it?
Produce less? Or is that just plugging the well? And what about the money we get from selling oil to one country, to buy something we don't currently produce in another?

[isv000]

Quote from Fangaro

What should we do with our oil? Not sell it to India? Keep it all in the country? And what will we do with it?

Lower the price and domestic sales will increase exponentially, since nowadays you have to think twice about your route to get everything done in one trip. When driving on vacation, you plan your route a year in advance, especially if you need to avoid the M-4...
But this is all a cry into the void, since our subsoil belongs to the people, and once it is extracted, it belongs to the alligators...

[lukash66]

Well, what can you do? We sang, danced, scratched our heads, figured out where we'd get the biggest kickback, pretty good. No, Comrade C. isn't involved in their wedding generals. He'd have figured it out quickly.😀😀

[AK-1945]

You know... maybe it's even for the best.

[Vasily12]

India likes to be a prostitute, that's just the way she was born.

[isv000]

Quote: Vasily12

India likes to be a prostitute, that's just the way she was born.

I wouldn't have become a deputy technical officer for the gypsies for any amount of money...

[23ronin]

The Indo-French Vicrane won't help the Indians gain air superiority over the Pak. And you, my friends, no matter how hard you try, are no musicians (c). You need to learn to fly first. Then even the old 21 MiGs will be a formidable fighting machine. Besides, the Pak are highly motivated, which can't be said about the Indians.

[isv000]

Quote: 23ronin

Then even the old 21 MIGs will be a formidable combat machine.

I'm not an aviator by any means, quite the opposite, but! Even I understand that our 21s, with their aerodynamics, are excellent machines even today. If they were polished and modernized, they could still make a splash! Especially if they were turned into unmanned fighters.

[23ronin]

That's what the Chinese did with the packs and gave the Krishnaites a kick in the teeth.

[isv000]

Quote: 23ronin

That's what the Chinese did with the packs and gave the Krishnaites a kick in the teeth.

Until disco dancers are reduced to wearing dentures, they won't understand that good old Soviet-Russian technology won't let them down. Otherwise, even if they give them a Vimana, they'll ruin it. First, we need to train the personnel and test them in combat, fine-tune the air defense and missile defense systems, and train the crews, not just dance around technology. For example, we need to stock up on Su-57s first; we can't just give them to just anyone, especially gypsies...

[23ronin]

Always and everywhere, the main thing is STAFF. Equipment is important, but it is secondary. This is proven by the experience of WWII.

[isv000]

Quote: 23ronin

Always and everywhere, the main thing is STAFF. Equipment is important, but it is secondary. This is proven by the experience of WWII.

This argument confirms the crookedness of UkrAir Defense's calculations. In the 80s, in Sary-Shagan, we grounded two barrage aircraft with two missiles...

[23ronin]

Good afternoon, whistles or drones?

[APASUS]

As soon as the contract is signed, all talk about the SU57 should stop; let their own people make them for another 200 years before that happens.

[Yuri L]

In India, there is always a gap in the pocket that can accommodate a eurofranc.

[isv000]

Cutting corners always leads to trouble. The gypsies will negotiate so hard that they'll have their onboard systems shut off if they misbehave.

[musorg]

Learned from Trump and hopes that Micron will lower the price to their wishes, there are no others!