Building Bonds

The Safran-DRDO fighter engine deal opens a new chapter in Indo-French strategic partnership

Junaid Suhais

Beneath the glare of geo-strategic spotlights, some alliances are like grandmasters quietly moving their pieces deep into mid-game, anticipating shifts before the world catches on. India and France, once content advancing pawns across distant squares, now move queens and castles in synchronised arcs. A Rafale Marine jet thunders above the blue while a jet engine hums to life in a Hyderabad lab, each a calculated move in a match where mastery is measured not in domination, but in the power to co-design the board itself.

OCEAN KING Rafale Marine

With an investment of Euro 36 million and located on 10 acres of land in the Hyderabad SEZ, Indian and French engineers are co-developing the beating heart of a future stealth fighter, a jet engine, the pinnacle of aerospace technology. These two silhouettes, one cast by the prowling might of operational power, the other by the quiet pulse of industrial creation, are not parallel lines, but converging vectors. Together, they support a relationship that has shed the linear logic of mere buyer and seller, forming instead the dual scaffolding of a partnership matured into a genuine co-architecture of strategic capability.

The 2025 Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine jets, alongside the pioneering Safran-Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) collaboration to co-develop a next-generation fighter engine, transcends mere transactional contracts. They script the unfolding chapter in the enduring saga of India-France strategic cooperation, a narrative where shared conviction in strategic autonomy drives a decisive shift from conventional procurement to profound technology transfer, evolving from transactional allies to co-architects of sovereign power in a turbulent global theatre.

The Historical Arc

Over successive decades, this relationship has evolved, from early arms acquisitions to comprehensive strategic cooperation, adapting continuously to serve the dynamic security and industrial imperatives of both nations.

From Ouragan to Mirage: The first major milestone was the 1953 deal for 71 Dassault Ouragan fighter jets, known in the Indian Air Force (IAF) as the Toofani. These jets served India extensively, from ground attacks during the liberation of Diu in 1961 to reconnaissance in the 1962 Sino-Indian War and became emblematic of India’s early steps toward self-reliance in military aviation.

This was a pragmatic decision by India to equip its air force with a capable platform while simultaneously signaling its intent to pursue an independent foreign policy. This initial engagement set a crucial precedent: France proved to be a reliable partner, unencumbered by the Cold War alignments that often complicated dealings with other major powers.

This trust was reinforced in the Eighties with the acquisition of Mirage 2000. At a time when India faced a complex regional security environment, the Mirage provided the IAF with a cutting-edge, multi-role fighter that offered a significant technological advantage. The subsequent upgrade of the Mirage fleet and France's unwavering support, especially its refusal to impose sanctions after India’s 1998 nuclear tests, cemented its reputation in New Delhi as an ‘all-weather’ friend. This political reliability became a cornerstone of the relationship, formally institutionalised with the signing of a Strategic Partnership in 1998.

Deepening the Waters: The partnership expanded from the skies to the seas with the 2005 agreement for six Scorpène-class (Kalvari-class) submarines, to be built in India by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) with technology transfer from France’s Naval Group. This project was a quantum leap in industrial collaboration. It was not merely an off-the-shelf purchase but a complex co-production initiative aimed at revitalising India’s submarine-building capabilities and furthering its goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defence. The Kalvari-class submarines, equipped with advanced features like air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems being developed indigenously, now form a critical component of India’s underwater deterrence.

The Rafale Era Begins

The acquisition of 36 Rafale fighters for the IAF in 2016 marked the most significant defence deal between the two countries to date. Valued at approximately Euro 7.87 billion, the agreement provided the IAF with a 4.5-generation ‘omnirole’ aircraft, capable of performing a wide spectrum of missions from air superiority to deep-penetration strikes and delivering nuclear payloads. The deal went beyond the aircraft themselves, including a comprehensive package of India-specific enhancements, advanced weaponry like Meteor and SCALP missiles, and a commitment to performance-based logistics. It was a clear signal of India’s intent to maintain a qualitative edge in a contested neighbourhood.

Rafale Marine MoU:

Building on the success of the IAF contract, the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement on 28 April 2025, for 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navy represents a pivotal moment. It highlights a strategic convergence, aiming to develop a powerful synchronisation between India’s air and naval forces.

The agreement, valued at approximately Euro 7 billion, is a comprehensive package designed to rapidly enhance the Indian Navy’s carrier-borne aviation capabilities. The core components, as outlined in the official press release, include:

•  Aircraft Fleet: A total of 26 Dassault Rafale jets, comprising 22 single-seat Rafale M (Marine) variants for carrier operations and 4 twin-seat Rafale D variants for training purposes.
•   Delivery Schedule: Deliveries are set to begin in 2028 and are expected to be completed by 2030, a timeline that addresses the navy’s urgent need to replace its ageing and unreliable MiG-29K fleet.
• Support Ecosystem: The deal includes a five-year Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) support package. PBL is an outcome-focused strategy where the provider is incentivised to ensure asset availability and mission readiness, rather than just selling spare parts. This ensures higher operational uptime for the fleet. The package also covers training, simulators, and associated equipment.
• Industrial Participation: Crucially, the IGA includes provisions for setting up production facilities for the Rafale fuselage in India, as well as Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for the aircraft's engine, sensors, and weapons. This aligns directly with India’s ‘Make in India’ ambitions. The existing Dassault-Tata joint venture in Hyderabad for fuselage manufacturing is a prime example of this deepening industrial collaboration.

The Strategic Dimension

The procurement of the Rafale-M is a move laden with strategic significance. It is an interim solution to bridge the capability gap until India’s indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) becomes operational, expected around 2031-2032. However, its impact goes far beyond being a stop-gap measure.

Commenting on the signing, Ambassador of France to India Thierry Mathou said, “Today’s agreement marks a significant new milestone in the strategic partnership between France and India. Reflecting the deep mutual trust and confidence that underpin our defence cooperation, it also highlights the ability of the French industry to align with India’s evolving needs.”

Capability Symbiosis: The most immediate benefit is the high degree of commonality between the Rafale-M and the IAF’s existing Rafale fleet. This ‘capability symbiosis’ will streamline logistics, maintenance, and training, reducing life-cycle costs and enhancing operational interoperability. Pilots and ground crews can be cross-trained, and spares can be pooled, creating a more efficient and resilient warfighting ecosystem.

Maritime Power Projection: The Rafale-M will operate from India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, transforming it into a potent instrument of power projection. An aircraft carrier is a floating embassy and a sovereign territory, allowing a nation to project air power far from its shores. Equipped with the Rafale-M, INS Vikrant can effectively police the vast expanses of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), secure vital sea lanes of communication, and provide a credible deterrent against China’s increasing naval activities.

Integration Challenges: The path to integration is not without hurdles. The Rafale-M, with its fixed wings, is dimensionally larger than the aircraft lifts on INS Vikrant, which were designed for the smaller MiG-29K. This will require either minor modifications to the carrier’s elevators or innovative operational workarounds, such as removing wing pylons before moving the aircraft. While technically feasible, these procedures could impact the operational tempo on the carrier deck. This challenge highlights the trade-offs involved in adapting a foreign platform, reinforcing the long-term importance of the indigenously designed TEDBF, which will be tailored for Indian carriers.

The Safran Engine Agreement

 If the Rafale deal represents the pinnacle of platform acquisition, the Safran-DRDO agreement to co-develop a next-generation fighter engine is a bold leap into the very heart of aerospace sovereignty. For decades, jet engine technology has been the ‘last frontier’ for India’s defence industrial base, a closely guarded domain dominated by a handful of global powers. Cracking this code is not just a matter of industrial ambition; it is a fundamental prerequisite for true strategic autonomy.

 BELOW AND BOTTOM Signing of HAL and Safran Aircraft Engines agreement at Aero India 2025; and Safran M88 aero engine

The most revolutionary aspect of this deal is the commitment to 100 per cent transfer of technology (ToT), including full access to design and manufacturing expertise, shared Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and know-how for critical components like single-crystal turbine blades. This is a radical departure from past collaborations, such as the deal with America’s GE for F414 engines, which involved only partial technology transfer (around 70 per cent) and came with stringent end-use restrictions under the US ITAR regime.

Why Engines Matter: India’s quest for an indigenous fighter engine has been long and arduous. The GTRE GTX- 35VS Kaveri engine project, initiated in the Eighties to power the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), struggled for decades. It was plagued by technological hurdles, a lack of testing infrastructure, and crippling international sanctions following the 1998 nuclear tests, which cut off access to critical technologies. Ultimately, the Kaveri failed to produce the required thrust, and India had to import GE F404 engines for the Tejas. This setback was a stark reminder that without mastering propulsion technology, any ambition of building a truly indigenous fighter aircraft would remain incomplete.
 
Economic and Industrial Impact

Cost and Scale: The project is estimated to cost around USD7 billion and will involve building nine prototypes over 12 years.

MRO Hub: Safran is already expanding its footprint in India, with plans for a major MRO facility in Hyderabad to service the M88 engines of the Rafale fleet. This facility is expected to create hundreds of high-skilled jobs and will form the bedrock for the new engine development programme.

Ecosystem Development: The project will catalyse a domestic ecosystem of suppliers for specialised materials, alloys, and components, boosting the ‘Make in India’ initiative. It has the potential to make India a global hub for engine manufacturing and maintenance.

Export Potential: With joint IPR, India will have the autonomy to adapt the engine for other platforms and even pursue exports, a significant step towards becoming a net security provider and a major defence exporter.
 
The Strategic Ecosystem

The Deal: Announced in August 2025, the collaboration between France’s Safran and India’s DRDO is a game-changer. The project aims to design, develop, and produce a 110-120 kN thrust-class engine in India. This engine is slated to power India’s futuristic fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

These two landmark deals do not exist in a vacuum. They are the operational and industrial manifestations of a deep and expanding strategic alignment, particularly focused on ensuring a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific. Both India and France view themselves as resident powers in the region: India through its vast coastline, and France through its overseas territories such as Réunion Island. This shared geography informs a shared strategic outlook.
From Bilateral Exercises to Trilateral Cooperation: The Indo-French Defence partnership is characterised by a high level of operational interoperability, honed through years of complex joint exercises. The flagship naval exercise, ‘Varuna’, initiated in 2001, has evolved into a sophisticated drill involving aircraft carriers, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft from both navies. These exercises are crucial for practicing everything from anti-submarine warfare to cross-deck operations, ensuring that both navies can work together seamlessly in a crisis.

Additionally, unlike AUKUS, which pivots around hard military containment, the India-France model is a subtler choreography of capacity building and technology diffusion, a quieter assertion of sovereignty in a region of contested dependence.

This bilateral cooperation is now expanding into trilateral and multilateral formats. The India-France-UAE Trilateral is a prime example, leveraging the strategic locations and capabilities of all three nations to enhance maritime security in the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean.
 
The French Difference

What makes the partnership with France unique for India? The answer lies in a combination of political reliability, a shared philosophy of strategic autonomy, and a willingness to share high-end technology without the restrictive conditions often imposed by other partners.

Versus Russia: For decades, Russia was India’s primary defence supplier. However, its share in India’s arms imports has been steadily declining, falling from 76 per cent in 2009-13 to just 36 per cent in 2019-23, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Concerns over supply chain reliability, post-Ukraine war sanctions, and a desire to diversify have pushed India to look elsewhere.

Versus the US: While India-US Defence ties have grown exponentially, the partnership is often constrained by America’s stringent legal and regulatory frameworks, such as ITAR. The US is typically reluctant to provide full technology transfer for its ‘crown-jewel’ technologies, as seen in the GE engine deal. France, in contrast, has demonstrated a greater willingness to engage in genuine co-development.

France’s arms exports, meanwhile, have surged. It became the world’s second-largest arms exporter in 2019-23, with India being its single largest customer, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of its exports. This symbiotic relationship is reshaping global arms trade dynamics.

 Data Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), March 2024 Report

The Diplomatic Calculus

At its core, the India-France defence partnership is a masterclass in modern statecraft. It is a relationship where national interests align almost perfectly, creating a powerful feedback loop of trust, technology, and strategic convergence. For France, it is a vehicle to assert its status as a major Indo-Pacific power and a global security provider, independent of the US-China rivalry. For India, it is the most effective pathway to achieving Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence, de-risking its supply chains, and building the military muscle required to underwrite its regional leadership.

The regular high-level dialogues, such as the annual Strategic Dialogue and meetings of the Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism, provide the diplomatic framework that nurtures this cooperation. The personal chemistry between the leaders of both nations has also played a significant role, transforming a formal partnership into one of ‘strategic intimacy.’

Reflecting on the partnership’s evolution, one French diplomat observed, “Defence and security really is the core of our partnership… ‘Make in India’ is a priority for India, and all our big stakeholders in the defence industry want to play the game. That means coming to India, building in India, and transfer of technology. That’s the key.”

Final Thoughts