‘Don’t Know Why People Are Criticising It’: Macron On India Rafale Deal

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a firm defense of India’s massive defense acquisition plans in New Delhi on Friday. Addressing critics of the proposed ₹3.25 trillion ($35.65 billion) purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets, Macron asserted that the deal is a “cornerstone” of the India-France strategic partnership that will generate high-skill jobs in both nations.

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“I don’t understand why people are criticizing the deal,” Macron told reporters. “It will make your country stronger, enhance strategic relations, and create more jobs here.” The statement follows India’s recent decision to clear the long-pending Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project under a government-to-government (G2G) framework.

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The MRFA Project: 114 Jets to Bridge the Gap

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently grappling with a critical shortage of fighter squadrons, operating only 31 against a sanctioned strength of 42. The procurement of 114 Rafales is designed to bridge this gap rapidly.

• Direct Supply: Dassault Aviation will deliver 18 aircraft in a ready-to-fly state.

• Domestic Manufacturing: The remaining 96 jets will be built in India, with indigenous content reaching 50% in phased intervals.

Co-Production: The “Make in India” Core

Macron emphasized that “Make in India” is not just a secondary feature but a “core” component of the program. France has committed to the transfer of technology (ToT) for critical devices, aiming to integrate maximum Indian components into the assembly line.

India’s willingness to “command a new bunch of 114 Rafales” signals a shift toward long-term platform standardization. Having already purchased 36 jets for the IAF and 26 for the Navy, the induction of another 114 would make the Rafale the backbone of India’s multi-role frontline operations.

Underwater Ambitions: From Rafale to Scorpene

Beyond the skies, Macron is actively pitching for a deeper partnership under the sea. France hopes to replicate the “Rafale success” with the construction of three additional Scorpene-class submarines at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).

This proposal follows the completion of Project 75, which saw six Scorpene submarines built in collaboration with France’s Naval Group. Macron noted that France has “offered additional capacities”—likely a reference to Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology—to ensure the Indian Navy maintains a technological edge over regional adversaries.

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Reality Check

President Macron frames the deal as a win-win for jobs and security. Still, the ₹3.25 trillion price tag is monumental, and technical negotiations for co-production are notoriously slow. Therefore, while the “willingness” to buy 114 jets has been confirmed, the actual signing of the contract could still be years away. In fact, the previous 36-jet deal took nearly eight years from the initial tender to the first delivery. Furthermore, the 50% indigenous content target is ambitious; local aerospace firms will need a massive infrastructure upgrade to meet Dassault’s precision standards.

The Loopholes

The G2G framework is intended to bypass the corruption-prone and lengthy global tender process. In fact, this “fast-track” route often faces political scrutiny regarding price transparency. Therefore, while Macron claims to not understand the criticism, the “off-the-shelf” vs. “domestic tender” debate remains a sensitive loophole for the opposition. Still, the urgent squadron depletion of the IAF provides the government with a strong national security justification to push through the G2G deal.

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What This Means for You

If you are an engineer or work in the defense supply chain, the co-production of 96 jets will create a decade of demand for localized avionics and components. First, monitor the official release of the “indigenization roadmap” to see which specific components will be built in India. Then, expect a surge in hiring at Mazagon Dock (MDL) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as these projects transition from paper to the factory floor.

Finally, realize that a “standardized” fleet of nearly 180 Rafales (36 + 26 + 114) makes maintenance much cheaper for the taxpayer in the long run. You should watch for the announcement of a “Regional MRO Hub” (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) in India, which could serve other Rafale operators in the Indo-Pacific. Before the end of the quarter, follow the news on the Project 75(I) negotiations with Germany to see if France manages to “scoop” that deal too with its “additional capacities” offer.

What’s Next

Technical and commercial negotiations for the 114-jet MRFA deal will intensify in March 2026. Then, the foundation stone for the new Rafale co-production facility is expected to be laid by mid-year. Finally, the formal contract for the three additional Scorpene submarines is likely to be signed during the upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in Paris this fall.

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