French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday strongly defended India’s plan to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets, insisting the agreement strengthens New Delhi’s military capability and deepens the strategic bond between the two nations. Speaking in Delhi during the AI Impact Summit 2026, he dismissed criticism of the deal and emphasised its long-term value for both countries.

Macron’s comments come a week after India’s Defence Acquisition Council approved the multibillion-pound procurement, a decision that will sharply expand the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet ahead of his visit.

During the interaction, he also said France aims to extend this model of cooperation to submarine manufacturing, signalling Paris’ intent to broaden defence ties with New Delhi.

French President defends jet deal

According to India Today, Macron maintained that the deal benefits India economically and militarily.

"The business component is part of the dialogue between the company (Dassault Aviation) and your government. And I mean, I don't see how people can criticise because it makes your country stronger, it increases the strategic relationship between us, and it creates more jobs here."

He reiterated that defence industrial cooperation remains a pillar of the Indo-French partnership, particularly as France seeks wider production integration.

Focus on local manufacturing and technology transfer

Macron said France intends to ensure the highest possible level of Indian participation in the production of key systems–echoing the model used under the Tata Airbus collaboration.

"We are extremely committed to having a maximum number of Indian components and manufacturing a maximum number of critical devices in India. This is exactly the rationale under the Tata Airbus deal. So we will do the same for the Rafale. You can count on us."

Hints at submarine cooperation

According to NDTV, Macron also highlighted the broader strategic importance of the defence partnership and said he hoped Franco-Indian collaboration would expand into submarine projects as well.

The French President pointed to the success of previous aviation and aerospace agreements with India, positioning them as templates for future maritime security cooperation.

Speaking at the India AI Summit in Delhi, Macron said both nations are ready to accelerate joint production and strengthen supply-chain resilience.

He noted, "We don't just have strategic partnership, we have a special global strategic partnership, which is unique both for India, and France. On Rafale, what we want to do is to expand. So India confirmed few days ago its willingness to command a new bunch of Rafale, one of the 14. And to co-produce, so the Make in India will be core in this new command. And on top of that, what we want to do is to improve the cooperation in maintenance capacities in terms of diversification of approach and to be much more, I would say, in a sort of mutual agreement cooperation."

Macron added, “So, it's a new step forward, clearly consolidating the existing one and going further. So, Rafale is absolutely key. I hope we will do the same on submarines. We offered additional capacities and we are doing it as well on the entire hands and the entire by the way between Tata and Airbus. So, clearly the cooperation is improving and we are building a new era of cooperation."