A Dassault Rafale in the Indian Air Force flies during the Aero India airshow in February 2019. Though India recently indicated it would not move forward with an Su-57 purchase from Russia, it has not publicly commented on its future plans for the Rafale. (Shutterstock/dilurakesh)

India Doesn’t Want Russia’s Su-57s. Might It Double Down on the Rafale Instead?

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New Delhi and Paris are reportedly in talks to move Rafale production to India, helping to stabilize the aircraft’s supply chain amid debilitating wildfires in France.

Last week, Indian Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh publicly ruled out the purchase of the Russian-made Su-57 Felon. As previously reported, Singh did not directly mention the Su-57, but announced in general terms that New Delhi would not buy any new models of Sukhoi aircraft in the near future.

What Singh did not say was that India would not buy any new aircraft, period—leaving the door open for France, which now reportedly hopes to enter into a co-production deal with India for the Dassault Rafale omnirole combat aircraft.

New Delhi’s program of record currently calls for it to receive 114 of the French-made fourth-generation-plus fighters. However, under a new plan, France could deliver 20 of the aircraft and work with Indian firms on the remaining 94. Such a move could be a boon for India’s domestic aerospace industry, and also allow the jets to be outfitted with Indian-made systems. The proposal is now in the evaluation stage with India’s Defense Ministry Acquisition Wing and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

“A primary focus for Indian evaluators will be the degree to........

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