The most significant outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France is not another purchase of fighter jets but India's push to manufacture them domestically. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised that indigenisation and local manufacturing are becoming central to the India-France defence relationship. The partnership now extends beyond the traditional buyer-seller model, encompassing Rafale fighter jets, Scorpene submarines, and discussions on sixth-generation aircraft. With both Paris and Moscow vying for India's future fighter programmes, New Delhi enjoys unprecedented leverage. This is no longer just about Rafales; it is about India's ambition to become a global defence manufacturing powerhouse.
