NEW DELHI: Amidst the deepening of ties between India and France, Indian technological components have likely been integrated into the Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jets that were recently delivered to Greece. This marks a potential milestone in India’s growing role in global defence supply chains and is a step towards becoming a major defence exporter in the coming decade, as envisioned by the country’s top leadership.
So far, Neither Dassault nor the Indian Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed such integration, which emerges amidst the expanding collaboration between New Delhi and Paris—a relationship that has flourished under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure since 2014.
The Sunday Guardian reached out to Dassault for a response on these developments, but no response was received by the deadline.
As per latest company documents, Greece acquired 24 Rafale jets from France—18 delivered between 2021 and 2023, with the final six completed by 31 December 2024, at Tanagra Air Base.
India’s defence ties with France have gained momentum with high-profile deals like the 2016 purchase of 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) that were fully delivered by 2022, and the impending Rs 60,000 crore agreement for 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navy, expected to be finalized in mid-2025.
Dassault’s joint venture partner in India-Reliance’s “Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited” (DRAL) based in Nagpur, already produces components like cockpit canopies and doors for Falcon business jets, with declared plans to expand into Rafale parts.
Similarly, the company had announced setting up of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Noida last year
The possibility of Indian technological components in the jets supplied to Greece could include avionics, software, structural parts, or even adaptations from systems like the Astra missile and Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), which are already integrated into IAF Rafales.
This would align with France’s efforts to diversify its supply chains and India’s “Make in India” vision.
The recent document released by Dassault has highlighted the persistent supply chain challenges that it faced in 2024, potentially opening the door to Indian alternatives.
As per an official public document released by the French defence company, 21 Rafale jets were delivered (14 to France, 7 for export), exceeding the target of 20 in 2024.
All 24 Rafale jets ordered by Greece were delivered, including the 18 delivered in 2021 and six more in 2024.
As per it, it got orders to supply 30 Rafales (18 by Indonesia, 12 by Serbia), adding to the backlog of 164 export Rafales. And as of the end of 2024, the backlog includes 220 Rafales (164 export, 56 to France), up from 211 in 2023.
It has mentioned that one of its goals for 2025 is to “Accelerate Make in India” with known initiatives like DRAL, which produces Falcon parts and aims to expand into Rafale components.
Greece’s Rafale fleet, comprising 18 single-seat Rafale EGs and six two-seat Rafale DGs, bolsters its air force against regional rival Turkey. The jets’ advanced features—Thales AESA radar, Spectra warfare suite, and Meteor missiles—could theoretically benefit from Indian enhancements, especially if Dassault leveraged its Indian operations to meet export demands.
During PM Modi’s July 2023 visit to Paris, both nations outlined a roadmap to 2047, emphasizing co-development of jet engines (with Safran) and submarines.