Europe is emerging as a key pillar in India’s diversified defence partnerships. Historically reliant on Russia for major platforms, lately, it has increasingly engaged with the United States, and now, India is balancing its portfolio with deeper European ties.

India’s decision to approve the acquisition of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets—most of which will be manufactured domestically—marks far more than a routine defence procurement. It signals a deepening and strategic realignment in India’s engagement with Europe, in technology transfer, industrial collaboration, and long-term capability building. 

Alongside other acquisitions valued at Rs 3.6 lakh crore, including a substantial order of SCALP long-range ground attack missiles and a proposed $10-billion submarine deal with Germany, New Delhi is shaping a new chapter in defence cooperation with European powers.

While the US, a maverick and giant defence partner, which made fast inroads with India, paused in high-grade military platforms and systems despite such deals as P8I and Predator drones. 

When I met Dana Linnet in Washington this week, a senior diplomat at the US Department of State on Indo-Pacific, representing at senior Interagency meetings at the White House on key issues, told me about a great transition and opportunity with India, like never before. But till then, Europe grabs one of the world’s largest military ecosystems. What is unfolding is sheer breakthroughs, surprises, and some great transactions. 

However, despite this, India has yet to see in concrete terms Make in India, full tech and co-development from fighter jet to submarine to indigenous engine. 

Rafale and the India–France strategic axis

The decision to procure 114 additional Rafale aircraft builds on India’s existing fleet acquired from Dassault Aviation. Crucially, most of the new jets are expected to be manufactured in India, which has been a delayed project over the years.

The inclusion of SCALP ground attack missiles—produced by MBDA—further enhances the Indian Air Force’s long-range strike capabilities. These missiles reportedly demonstrated devastating precision during Operation Sindoor, targeting hostile airbases and defence installations. Their acquisition underscores India’s focus on stand-off capability: the ability to strike high-value targets from a safe distance without exposing aircraft to enemy air defences.

The timing of the clearance, just ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India, is diplomatically significant. While contract negotiations—covering technical specifications, pricing, and industrial participation—will take months to finalise, the political message is unmistakable: India and France are consolidating a defence partnership that has steadily matured over the past decade.

France has proven to be a reliable supplier, relatively insulated from geopolitical volatility and less encumbered by restrictive end-use conditions compared to some other global arms exporters. For India, which values strategic autonomy, this reliability is indispensable.

Submarine deal and Germany’s technological role

Parallel to the Rafale deal is the expected $10-billion agreement for submarines involving technology transfer from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. This collaboration could significantly upgrade India’s undersea warfare capabilities at a time when the Indian Ocean is becoming increasingly contested.

Germany’s expertise in conventional submarine design—particularly in air-independent propulsion systems—offers India both operational advantages and industrial knowledge. The emphasis on technology sharing is central. Rather than a simple buyer-seller relationship, the deal is structured under the strategic partnership (SP) model to build domestic manufacturing capacity and reduce long-term dependence on foreign suppliers.

Europe’s strategic relevance in India’s defence matrix

These developments highlight a broader shift: Europe is emerging as a key pillar in India’s diversified defence partnerships. Historically reliant on Russia for major platforms and increasingly engaged with the United States, India is now balancing its portfolio with deeper European ties.

This diversification serves multiple purposes under autonomy, which is about avoiding overdependence on any single supplier.

Another key element is the technological depth for accessing advanced missile systems, aerospace engineering, and submarine technologies.

However, it is equally about geopolitical signalling for enhancing India’s role as a pivotal Indo-Pacific power with strong transcontinental alliances.

For Europe, too, the partnership is strategic. As global power dynamics shift and transatlantic equations evolve, European nations are seeking stronger partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. India—large, democratic, and strategically located—is a natural partner.

Beyond procurement: Toward co-development

The larger story is not about jets and submarines alone; it is about co-development and shared strategic interests. If executed effectively, these agreements could lay the groundwork for joint research, integrated supply chains, and collaborative defence innovation.

With US which is undoubtably is the leaders in new military must up its game as Dana clearly mentioned the opportunities in the private sector, to close in defence in ships, rotary wing, fighter aircraft, mission systems, air lift, missile systems, cyber solutions, energy, space systems, and land systems.

And again, challenges remain with Europe as well. Negotiations over pricing, offsets, intellectual property rights, and local production guarantees can be complex and protracted. European bureaucracy is increasingly becoming a huge burden for the decision making within a system, despite a successful model like the EU. 

However, lately, the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has broken those barriers, and other bilateral arrangements in the context of the India-EU partnership.

Ensuring timely delivery, cost discipline, and effective technology absorption will determine whether these ambitious plans translate into lasting capability.

The approval of 114 additional Rafales, the acquisition of advanced SCALP missiles, and the prospective submarine deal with Germany collectively represent a decisive strengthening of India’s defence architecture—with Europe as a central partner.

At a time of rising regional tensions and evolving global alignments, India is not merely buying weapons; it is building strategic depth. Europe, in turn, is no longer just a distant economic partner—it is becoming an essential security collaborator in India’s long-term vision of sovereignty, resilience, and power projection.

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