Rafale Deal: India's Defense Ecosystem Set for Major Transformation

• India's Rafale deal with France aims to compress decades of technological learning into a single purchasing cycle, focusing on autonomy over weapons, software, data, and engines.
• The prospective deal for 114 Rafale fighters and 34 Rafale M naval variants, valued at $35 billion, would be India's largest combat aircraft purchase.
• India seeks significant technology transfer, including 50% India-made components for Rafale, and modifications for indigenous weapons, secure data links, and integrated Indian radars/sensors.
• Beyond Rafale, the defense compact extends to H125 utility helicopter manufacturing and domestic production of French AASM "Hammer" precision-guided munitions.
• India is pushing for core technology transfer in missile propulsion, guidance, and seekers, and is also eyeing co-development of a 120-kilonewton aircraft engine with France.