INTERNATIONAL — February 17, 2026
Macron Arrives in India for Talks on Potential 114 Rafale Jets Deal
French President Emmanuel Macron is in India for talks on AI cooperation and a possible $35 billion deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets, which could be India's biggest foreign arms purchase. He and PM Modi will open a helicopter assembly line in Karnataka.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in India for a three-day visit to hold negotiations on cooperation in artificial intelligence and a possible contract for the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
Agence France-Presse reported on Monday night, Feb. 16, that the deal is estimated at about 30 billion euros ($35 billion) and could become India's largest-ever military purchase from a foreign country, helping to bolster the nation's defense capabilities.
Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to inaugurate via video conference the assembly line for single-engine H125 helicopters in Karnataka state on Tuesday.
Experts view the potential Rafale contract as a potential turning point in bilateral relations between India and France, signaling the expansion of defense and economic cooperation between the two countries over the past decade.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single Afghan outlet citing reputable wire service Agence France-Presse with concrete, checkable details including named leaders, specific deal value, locations (Karnataka), dates (Feb. 16 inauguration), and numbers (114 jets, 30 billion euros); topic is not high-stakes or volatile.
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Hasht-e Subh
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Filed under
International — Emmanuel Macron, India, France, Rafale jets, Narendra Modi
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