India Signs Defence Partnership with France for 26 Rafale Marine...

India and France concluded a government-to-government deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy, strengthening a bilateral defence partnership that has become one of India most strategically significant. The jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, will be deployed aboard the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and a second carrier currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard. The deal, valued at approximately Rs 63,000 crore, includes Transfer of Technology provisions enabling Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to assemble a portion of the aircraft in India. France also agreed to share classified radar and electronic warfare technologies as part of the defence technology partnership framework. The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the long-term maintenance agreement, which will be handled jointly by HAL and Dassault teams.