Graphic of the day: India's largest defence deals

$39.7 billion Rafale deal with France becomes India's largest-ever defence contract, dwarfing all previous orders

Last Updated: Feb 13, 2026, 14:31 IST1 min

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India cements France as its top defence partner with a record $39.7 billion deal for 114 additional Rafale fighter jets—nearly five times larger than any previous contract. The mega-order dwarfs 2018's $5.4 billion Russian S-400 deal and Israel's recent $8.6 billion missile package, clearly signalling India's strategic pivot toward Western military hardware.

First Published: Feb 13, 2026, 14:54

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