India, France Advance Rafale Talks, Focus Shifts to Local Manufacturing

India and France have made significant progress in discussions related to the Rafale fighter jet programme , with New Delhi continuing to push for greater domestic participation in defence manufacturing under its ambitious 'Make in India' initiative .

The development was confirmed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday.

Addressing reporters after the high-level discussions, Misri said the Rafale programme featured prominently in the conversations between the two leaders and that negotiations between the two countries had moved forward considerably.

While refraining from sharing specific details, Misri indicated that India's broader approach to defence cooperation now extends beyond the purchase of military platforms. Instead, New Delhi is placing increasing emphasis on local manufacturing, technology transfer, co-development, co-design and co-production of defence equipment.

According to Misri, Prime Minister Modi has consistently advocated a framework that strengthens India's domestic defence capabilities while deepening strategic partnerships with key allies. He stressed that future defence collaborations would be guided by the principle of maximising local content and manufacturing within India , ensuring that defence acquisitions contribute to the country's industrial and technological growth.

The discussions between Modi and Macron covered a wide range of areas, reflecting the expanding scope of the India-France strategic partnership . Apart from defence cooperation, the two leaders reviewed progress in sectors such as civil nuclear energy, security, space, trade and investment, technology, innovation, education, mobility and people-to-people exchanges .

Defence remains one of the strongest pillars of ties between the two nations, with France emerging as a trusted partner in India's military modernisation efforts. The Rafale fighter aircraft , already a key component of the Indian Air Force's combat fleet, continues to symbolise the growing defence relationship between the two countries.

The latest progress in Rafale-related discussions signals the shared commitment of New Delhi and Paris to deepen defence cooperation while aligning it with India's long-term objective of building a stronger domestic manufacturing ecosystem. As strategic ties continue to expand, both countries appear keen to move beyond traditional buyer-seller arrangements toward a more collaborative and technology-driven partnership.