Defence cooperation remains the strongest pillar of India-France relations, evolving from a buyer-seller arrangement into a partnership focused on co-development, co-production and technological collaboration.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the relationship has witnessed significant milestones over the past decade, including the induction of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft and the successful completion of the Scorpene submarine project under Project-75.
A major breakthrough came in April 2025 when India and France signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. The agreement includes technology transfer provisions and indigenous integration of Indian weapons systems.
France has also emerged as a key partner in India’s drive for defence self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
French aerospace giant Safran has established India’s first deep-level aircraft engine Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility near Hyderabad. The company has also announced plans for an M88 engine maintenance facility for Rafale fighters and entered into partnerships for manufacturing advanced weapon systems in India.
The MEA said that the military cooperation has expanded through increasingly complex joint exercises such as Exercise Shakti, Exercise Garuda and Exercise Varuna involving the armies, air forces and navies of both countries.
The growing defence partnership reflects a broader strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific region, where both countries share concerns regarding maritime security, freedom of navigation and regional stability.
