The Big Rafale Deal: How G2G Model Fast-Tracks India’s Largest Defence Acquisition

Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 15:08 IST

The Government-to-Government (G2G) framework seen within defence circles as faster, cleaner and more predictable than traditional multi-vendor tenders.

India has finalised one of its most significant defence acquisitions ever — a proposed Rs 3.25 lakh crore agreement with France to procure 114 additional Dassault Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The deal, cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to New Delhi next week, will dramatically expand India’s air combat strength and transform its aerospace industrial base.

For Indian pilots and planners, this procurement represents a pivotal leap in capability. The Rafale, a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter with integrated electronic warfare systems, advanced sensors, and precision weapons, has already proven itself in demanding operational conditions. Its deployment in recent missions and drills has reinforced confidence in its performance.

A key feature of the deal is the use of a direct Government-to-Government (G2G) framework between New Delhi and Paris — a model similar to the earlier Rafale acquisition a decade ago, which is seen within defence circles as faster, cleaner and more predictable than traditional multi-vendor tenders. This approach is expected to significantly cut procedural delays that often slow down large defence procurements.

The G2G framework bypasses much of the bureaucratic layering. Instead of negotiating with multiple vendors, India negotiates directly with the French government, which then guarantees delivery through Dassault Aviation. This dramatically cuts procedural timelines and reduces the risk of future cancellations.

The supplying government, meanwhile, effectively stands behind the contract. This offers clearer pricing structures, state-backed performance guarantees, and better accountability on timelines

Under the current proposal, 18 Rafales would be delivered from France, while the remaining 96 are slated for final assembly and manufacture in India. Officials have stressed that this arrangement will not only enhance India’s combat fleet but also catalyse skilled jobs, robust supply chains, and long-term growth of the domestic aerospace sector.

Crucially, the deal is designed to integrate Indian weapons systems into the Rafale platform, ensuring that indigenous technologies and armaments work seamlessly with the new jets — a requirement New Delhi has underscored during negotiations.

The pact also envisages substantial technology transfer from Dassault Aviation and its partners to Indian firms participating in production and support. Tata Advanced Systems, for example, has already signed production transfer agreements with Dassault to manufacture key structural parts — the first time such components will be made outside France — marking a milestone under the “Make in India" initiative.

Indian defence planners see this acquisition as a force multiplier, bridging capability gaps while indigenous fighters such as HAL Tejas and future platforms like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) mature. Once concluded and fully implemented, the deal will turn the Rafale from an imported asset into a partly Indian-made cornerstone of India’s combat aviation fleet.

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