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India pitches to join Future Combat Air System with France

March 02, 2026 6 min read Internal Security International Relations Science & Technology GS2 (International Relations India-France relations) GS3 (Defence Science & Technology)
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What Happened

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, at the India-France Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, formally pitched for India to join the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) — a sixth-generation fighter jet programme jointly led by France, Germany, and Spain, valued at approximately €100 billion.
  • India signalled to France that it is willing to consider joining FCAS as a partner, particularly if France's troubled partnership with Germany within the programme does not work out due to persistent industrial and design disputes.
  • In early 2026, India and France's Safran formalised a co-development agreement for a 120-kilonewton engine for the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) Mk2 — deepening the bilateral defence technology partnership.
  • India's defence exports reached a record Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25 — a 12.04% growth over the previous year — and India exports to over 100 nations including France, the US, and Armenia.
  • The government has set a target of Rs 50,000 crore in annual defence exports by 2029, with FCAS participation potentially serving as a major technology catalyst.

Static Topic Bridges

Future Combat Air System (FCAS): Sixth-Generation Fighter Programme

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is a next-generation air combat system being developed jointly by France, Germany, and Spain, led primarily by Dassault Aviation (France) and Airbus Defence and Space (Germany/Spain). Launched in 2017 under a bilateral France-Germany agreement expanded to include Spain in 2019, FCAS encompasses not just a manned sixth-generation fighter aircraft (the "New Generation Fighter" or NGF) but also a network of unmanned combat drones ("Remote Carriers"), advanced sensors, and a "combat cloud" connecting all platforms. Total programme cost is estimated at €100 billion over 30+ years, making it Europe's most expensive defence project.

  • FCAS aims to replace France's Dassault Rafale and Germany's Eurofighter Typhoon by the 2040s
  • The programme has been troubled by disputes between Dassault and Airbus over intellectual property, workshare, and design leadership — France insists on a nuclear-capable, carrier-launchable aircraft (for the French Navy); Germany does not need this
  • As of 2026, Germany-France disagreements over Phase 1B (demonstration phase) have delayed the programme; India's offer of partnership is seen as a potential financial and industrial rescue option for France
  • Sixth-generation fighter characteristics include: AI-enabled systems, directed energy weapons capability, hypersonic speed, advanced stealth, manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), and cyber warfare integration
  • India's participation would open access to combat cloud architecture, advanced sensor fusion, and MUM-T concepts

Connection to this news: For India, FCAS participation offers a quantum leap in aerospace technology — far beyond what the Rafale deal (4.5-generation) provided — and aligns with the indigenisation goal under AMCA. For France, India provides financial depth and industrial scale to offset German resistance.

India's Defence Exports: Make in India in the Defence Sector

India's defence exports have grown from a negligible Rs 686 crore (2013-14) to Rs 23,622 crore (FY 2024-25) — a 34-fold increase in a decade — driven by the Make in India initiative, progressive indigenisation policies, and active government-to-government marketing of Indian defence products. India now exports to over 100 countries, including major military hardware such as BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (Philippines), Dornier-228 aircraft, Pinaka rocket systems, radars, and ammunition. The government has set an ambitious target of Rs 50,000 crore in annual exports by 2029.

  • Defence exports FY 2024-25: Rs 23,622 crore (~$2.8 billion); 12.04% growth over FY 2023-24 (Rs 21,083 crore)
  • Key export items: BrahMos cruise missiles, Dornier-228 aircraft, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, radars, ammunition, and sub-systems
  • Key export destinations: Philippines (BrahMos deal worth ~$375 million), Armenia (Pinaka, anti-tank missiles), India exports to US, France as well
  • India's defence production FY 2024-25: Rs 1,46,000 crore (~$17 billion) — all-time high
  • DPIIT issued 1,762 Export Authorisations in FY 2024-25, up 16.92% from the previous year
  • Government target: Rs 50,000 crore/year in defence exports by 2029
  • India's indigenisation policy: Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs) ban imports of 509 defence items; 100% FDI permitted via government route in defence

Connection to this news: FCAS participation would serve dual purposes — acquiring 6th-generation technology and creating manufacturing opportunities for Indian aerospace companies (HAL, L&T, BEL, Tata Advanced Systems) that could eventually be exported globally.

India-France Defence Partnership: Strategic Depth

India and France enjoy one of India's deepest bilateral defence partnerships, formalised through the India-France Strategic Partnership (1998). France has been one of India's most reliable defence suppliers — avoiding sanctions threats during India's nuclear tests and providing the Rafale deal. Key bilateral defence elements include the Rafale fighter aircraft deal (36 jets for Rs 59,000 crore, 2016), P-75 Scorpène submarine programme (6 submarines built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai), and collaboration on the AMCA Mk2 engine with Safran. The India-France Defence Dialogue (held in Bengaluru in early 2026) is an institutionalised mechanism for bilateral defence cooperation.

  • India-France Strategic Partnership established: 1998
  • Rafale deal: 36 aircraft, Rs 59,000 crore (~$7.4 billion at then rates), signed September 2016; all 36 delivered (final delivery January 2022)
  • Scorpène submarines: 6 Kalvari-class submarines built at Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai under technology transfer from Naval Group (France); all 6 commissioned
  • AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft): India's indigenous 5th-generation fighter under DRDO/ADA; Mk1 engine sourced from GE (USA); Mk2 to use a new 120 kN engine co-developed with Safran (France)
  • India-France Defence Industrial Roadmap: signed 2023; covers joint development in fighters, submarines, satellites, and missiles
  • France supported India's request to join the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) — both facilitating India's defence technology access globally

Connection to this news: The FCAS pitch deepens an already substantial India-France defence relationship from a buyer-seller dynamic toward genuine co-development — positioning India as a co-creator rather than just a customer of advanced military technology.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and India's Defence Procurement Framework

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is India's highest defence procurement decision-making body, chaired by the Defence Minister. It approves the "Acceptance of Necessity" (AoN) — the first stage in India's defence procurement process — for major capital acquisitions. The DAC frames India's Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), which prioritises indigenous procurement through categories like "Buy Indian - IDDM" (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) and "Buy and Make Indian." International joint ventures and development programmes like FCAS participation would require DAC approval and potentially Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) clearance for significant financial commitments.

  • DAC constituted in 2001 following Kargil Review Committee recommendations on defence procurement reforms
  • DAP (Defence Acquisition Procedure) 2020 replaced DPP (Defence Procurement Procedure) 2016
  • Procurement categories: Buy IDDM, Buy Indian, Buy and Make Indian, Buy and Make (Foreign), Buy Global — listed in order of preference
  • The Make category specifically encourages joint development programmes like FCAS partnership
  • Defence R&D budget: Rs 23,855 crore (2024-25), representing approximately 5.5% of total defence budget
  • DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) is India's apex body for military research under Ministry of Defence

Connection to this news: India's pitch to join FCAS as a full partner — rather than a buyer of finished aircraft — represents an aspiration to move to "Buy and Make Indian" and "Make" procurement categories in next-generation combat aviation, with DRDO and HAL as development partners.

Key Facts & Data

  • FCAS programme: launched 2017 (France-Germany); Spain joined 2019; total cost ~€100 billion
  • FCAS partners: Dassault Aviation (France), Airbus Defence & Space (Germany/Spain)
  • India-Safran deal (early 2026): co-development of 120 kN engine for AMCA Mk2
  • India defence exports FY 2024-25: Rs 23,622 crore (~$2.8 billion) — 12.04% growth; 34-fold increase in a decade
  • India defence exports to: 100+ nations including Philippines (BrahMos), Armenia (Pinaka), US, France
  • India defence production FY 2024-25: Rs 1,46,000 crore (~$17 billion) — all-time high
  • Government target: Rs 50,000 crore/year in defence exports by 2029
  • Rafale deal: 36 aircraft, Rs 59,000 crore, signed 2016; all delivered by January 2022
  • Scorpène submarines: 6 Kalvari-class; all commissioned under India-France collaboration
  • India-France Strategic Partnership established: 1998
  • DAP 2020: India's current defence procurement framework (replaced DPP 2016)
  • AMCA: India's 5th-generation fighter under DRDO/ADA; Mk2 to use Safran-co-developed engine
  • Defence R&D budget: Rs 23,855 crore (2024-25), ~5.5% of total defence budget